Polit cichlid

The polit is a highly sought, geographically restricted mbuna from the rocky shallows of Lion's Cove, on the western shore of Lake Malawi. Dominant males glow powder-blue with dark vertical bars, while subordinate males and females stay drab, and the striking coloration only develops in a spacious, well-structured tank. It reaches about 9 cm but is markedly aggressive and territorial, so a large rock-filled aquarium with abundant caves is essential; keep a single male with a harem of females and only alongside equally robust mbuna. Maintain hard, alkaline water, pH 7.8 to 8.6, at 24 to 27 C, with powerful filtration and strict water quality. A rock grazer feeding on aufwuchs, it needs a vegetable-based diet of spirulina and vegetable pellets, kept low in protein to avoid bloat. Best suited to experienced rift-lake keepers.