Paretroplus menarambo

Alternative names

 * Pinstripe Damba

Sexing

 * Difficult to sex visually but will breed in captivity. They do not reach sexual maturity until they are 2 years old.

Tank compatibility

 * These fish are best kept in shoals of around 6 or more to avoid aggression and allow pairs to form. Best kept in species tanks with an intention to breed this rare cichlid. Can be kept, however, with similar sized sturdy catfish or other Madagascan cichlids.

Diet

 * Will accept most foods and will sift the substrate. Will eat snails as well as willingly accepting bloodworm and brine shrimp.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * Must have a sandy substrate as they will continually sift this for food, and because of this plants will generally not thrive. Keep in a tank decorated with river-worn boulders and bogwood for cover. These fish are very sensitive to water quality issues and large water changes of 30%-50% should be performed weekly.

Behaviour

 * A semi-aggressive and slow-growing cichlid.

Identification

 * Juvenile Pinstripe Dambas are a pale gold with black dots in a pin stripe pattern. As they reach adulthood, around 4" or 3 years old, they are blue/grey to almost white with black dot pin stripes. The fins are edged in red, especially the caudal fin.

Species Note

 * This fish has not been since in the wild in Madagascar since the 1990s and has been declared extinct in the wild.
 * This fish is part of the ACA C.A.R.E.S program.