Discover 8 Spectacular Fish Found in Malawi

Malawi is a small country in East Africa. The third largest lake on the continent lies along its eastern border. Lake Malawi has an incredibly diverse selection of freshwater fish; some say the most diverse number of species in the world. There are more than 1,000 identified species in the lake but many more are yet to be discovered. Some of the most unique species are only endemic to Lake Malawi and many more are threatened with extinction. Besides Lake Malawi, several other smaller lakes, rivers, and streams also have some unique fish. Read on to discover eight spectacular fish found in Malawi!

1) Mbuna Cichlids

The most common fish in Malawi are African cichlids, colorful freshwater fish. One group of cichlids found in Lake Malawi are the mbuna cichilds or “rockfish”. There are 295 different species of mbuna in Lake Malawi alone. These fish display amazing color combinations, with mixes of electric blue, bright yellows, and reddish purple. Because of their vivid variations, these fish are popular in the aquarium trade, especially since they can be kept in a freshwater tank. Mbuna grow to about 5-6 inches in length. They are commonly called “rockfish” because they tend to hide in between and around underwater rock formations. A brightly colored mbuna in Lake Malawi is truly a spectacular sight!

2) Electric Yellow Cichlid

A type of African cichlid, the electric yellow cichlid is one of the most commonly sought after species for fish hobbyists. They are one of the smaller and less aggressive cichlids. These fish in general are pretty territorial and often have a reputation for being aggressive. However, this striking fish seems to have a more easy-going temperament. In fact, they are nicknamed the yellow lab fish due to their likeable personalities. As their name suggests, they are electric yellow in color with a horizontal black stripe on their dorsal fin. Their pelvic and anal fins have black markings as well. They typically are in the 3–4-inch range but some can grow to be 5 inches or more.

3) Chambo

The chambo (Oreochromis lidole) is a type of tilapia (also a cichlid) that was an important food fish for the country of Malawi. Due to an increase in population and overfishing, the numbers of chambo have dwindled significantly. In fact, it is now listed as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN.

Chambo are silvery fish with a tilapia spot on their lower dorsal fin. They average around 6-8 inches long and prefer the deeper areas of Lake Malawi. The males dig enormous spawning pits, sometimes almost as large as 10 feet. These fish are mouth brooders, meaning the females essentially use their mouths as a nest for the fish eggs to incubate. Even as juveniles, the tiny fish will retreat to their mother’s mouth for safety.

As a tilapia, they used to be a common food fish. Many traditional Malawi fish dishes feature the chambo. One of the common recipes is called Malawian chambo, which is a fried fish in gravy, a curry spice blend, and chutney. This tasty fish is often served with the national dish of Malawi, Nsima (cornmeal porridge).

4) Tigerfish

One look at these frightening fish and you will understand what makes them so spectacular! The tigerfish gets its name not from its orange color and black stripes, but from its sharp tiger-like teeth. The lake tigerfish (Rhamphochromis longiceps) are silvery with a dark line along their sides. They are sometimes compared to piranha due to their pointy intimidating teeth and aggressive behavior. Most are in the 5-5.5-inch range, but some have been recorded at 9.8 inches (25 cm). The name “tigerfish” describes a variety of fish across the world, including the Goliath tigerfish that can be found in Lake Tanganyika. However, the variety found in Malawi are significantly smaller. They can be found in the Majete Wildlife Reserve, especially below Kapichira Falls.

5) Ntchila

Another critically endangered fish in Malawi is the Ntchila (Labeo mesops). They are currently protected in the Liwonde National Park, where they spend much of their life in the lake, before swimming upstream to spawn in the Shire River. They later return to the lake. The Ntchila is a silvery fish with a long head. These fish can get to be 15.7 inches in length. Before the 1960’s, these fish were an important part of the commercial fishing industry in Malawi. Now, their population continues to decrease. Another population of this species can be found in neighboring Mozambique in the Lake Nyassa Reserve.

6) African Sharptooth Catfish

The African sharptooth catfish is quite unique because it has the head of a catfish and the body of an eel (at least that’s what it looks like!). The African sharptooth is a species of catfish that can remarkably “breathe” air! They have an adaptation of an accessory organ that allows them to access oxygen from the air. This makes them a hardy species! They have the ability to move across land to find more water. They can also survive in shallow mud until a rainier period occurs.

African sharptooth have four pairs of barbels that look like cat whiskers and a long dorsal and anal fin. It is one of the largest catfish in Africa with some reaching lengths of 5 feet 7 inches and weighing as much as 130 pounds! Besides being large, they have a massive mouth that is capable of catching and swallowing large waterbirds! An impressive fish for sure!

7) Lake Salmon

Although Lake Malawi has the most diverse collection of fish in the country, we can’t forget about of the majestic rivers in Malawi. Lake salmon live in Lake Malawi but migrate upstream to surrounding rivers and tributaries, like the Bua River, for spawning. The Bua River is located in the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in East Central Malawi and is an important area that is a protected reserve for the lake salmon, locally called mpasa. Researchers have discovered that the peak time for the lake salmon s between May-June, when males swim in a figure eight to attract a willing female. The lake salmon in this region do not turn pink and orange like other salmon during spawning. These salmon can grow to be around 18 inches long and weigh around eight pounds.

8) Rainbow Trout

Some of the rivers and streams in Malawi are stocked with rainbow trout, a favorite of fly-fishing anglers. Rainbow trout are long, narrow, and silvery. They have a pinkish rainbow stripe along their side and are heavily speckled with black spots, making them easily recognizable. They average one to five pounds and are in the 15–25-inch range but some can get larger. In Malawi these spectacular fish can be found in the Zomba Plateau (in the south), Mount Mulanji, and the Nyika Plateau (in northern Malawi). Although they are not a native fish of Malawi, they seem to be adapting quite well to the freshwater habitats in the country. Rainbow trout are a delicious fish food, and the locals add their own unique flair to them.

Summary of 8 Spectacular Fish Found in Malawi

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