CARES – Haplochromine Cichlids of Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is one of the great lakes of the world. The endemic fauna is a model in evolutionary science as over 500 species have differentiated to occupy every niche available within this large basin in a geographical eye blink. The beautiful haplochromine cichlids face a host of stressors in their native waters. Happily however, these fish make ideal aquarium residents. Many species have already disappeared in Lake Victoria due to man’s interference and many more are critically in peril.

This is the first in a series of CARES produced programs designated by Areas of Concern that gives an overview of the species flock of this lake and how differentiated the individual species are. The general information provided is a good starting point for further research into keeping CARES fish and, in this case, the beautiful species of the Lake Victoria region.