Malawi Lake, Nankumba Peninsula

Malawi, Mangochi District, Nankumba Peninsula

Lake Malawi is the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the ninth largest lake in the world by area. It is the third deepest freshwater lake in the world, and it is home to the highest number of lake fish species (800-1000) in the world, with 90 percent of those species being cichlids that are only found in this lake. Having a very distinct characteristics, Mbuna Cichlids are my favorite. The lake is also an important flyway zone for migratory birds.

The beautiful and untouched landscape of this place became my inspiration to create this biotope.

Submitted by: Kunal Mittal
Approved by: Ad Konings & Stefano Valdesalici

GPS: -14.0251265, 34.8226547

Geographical region: Eastern Africa
Drainage Basin
River catchment
Water body type: Lake
Water body name: Lake Malawi
Water body part: Open water
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: High
Concentration of sediments: Low
Water temperature: 22-26 °C
Water flow/curent: None

Chemical parameters

pH: 8
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Comment by the expert

Ad Konings: Criteria #2 – Under the heading inhabitants nothing is entered, but 4 names are given in the description of the environment. There exists no “Labidochromis tanganicae”. this name was used for L. caeruleus in the 1970s! but this species is found nowhere near the Nankumba Penisula, not even as an introduced species. The second, M. callainos, is an introduced species from the northern part of the lake. Also Sciaenochromis ahli has never been reported from the Nankumba Peninsula, but likely S. fryeri is meant. There are about 110 different species of just cichlids found around the Nankumba Peninsula… Vallisneria is a plant genus, not a family. Criteria #4 – Nothing given. Criteria #5 – Aquarium is way too small for 26(!) cichlids many of which are not from the Nankumba Peninsula. I even see a West African Hemichromis guttatus and a Epalzeorhynchos bicolor from Thailand in the tank! To top it off a man-made hybrid OB Aulonocara joins the ranks of the fish in a supposed biotope aquarium. I believe this contestant misses the point completely.

Stefano Valdesalici: No biogeography provided.