Paretroplus menarambo cichlid

Rocks and bogwood should be added to the tank to create hiding places, the substrate needs to be sand as they are sand sifters in the wild. Pinstripe dambas require a lot of room so a large tank is a must. They are very slow at reaching maturity, often up to two years and as they are now extinct in the wild you should consider carefully before purchasing a specimen. Often it is best to purchase these with the intent to breed them so you will require patience. They are extremely intolerant of poor water conditions so make sure that regular water changes are performed and that you also use a filtration system that is capable of dealing with the large amounts of waste that these fish produce.

They are best kept in small groups, another reason for using a large aquarium, if kept singly or in pairs they may become aggressive. They can be housed with bottom dwelling catfish or other Madagascan cichlids that require the same water parameters.