Pinstripe damba

The pinstripe damba is a large freshwater cichlid of the family Cichlidae, endemic to the Lake Kinkony region and floodplains of northwestern Madagascar. Once thought extinct in the wild, it is critically endangered and maintained largely through conservation aquaculture. It has a deep silvery body marked with fine dark pinstripes and, in condition, reddish-orange fin margins. It is a robust, territorial cichlid, especially when breeding, and pairs can be aggressive toward tankmates, so spacious quarters are needed. It requires a large tank with hard, alkaline water, open swimming areas and some structure. It is an omnivore accepting quality pellets, frozen and live foods. It is a substrate-spawner with biparental care of eggs and fry. Because of its conservation status, it is often kept by hobbyists and institutions specifically to help preserve the species, making responsible husbandry and record-keeping especially valuable.