Located along the west coast from Ngara to Senga Bay. Found in the sandy habitat, often around submerged tree trunks and branches. Diet in the wild consists of algae and invertebrates taken off the wood and the surrounding substrate.
The aquarium should have plenty of rockwork to provide shelter, territorial markers and spawning sites. Feed a quality cichlid flake/pellet food. Supplement with spirulina flake and frozen foods such as krill, brine or mysis.
The addition of wood into the aquarium's decoration can benefit this species as it replicates its natural habitat.