Kadango Red Fin

Geographical Origin:

It is one of the species with the widest distribution in the entire Lake Malawi, present almost everywhere there are relatively shallow but open waters, close to large steep boulders (hence the name "Kadango" or "Red Fin").

Fatal Incompatibility:

Putting a Kadango in a tank populated by *Pseudotropheus* or other fierce Mbunas is a lethal mistake. Despite the size of the *Copadichromis*, its long silky fins are an irresistible target for "fin-nippers". The Kadango will not fight; it will retreat to a high corner of the aquarium, stressing itself to death.

"Utaka" Setup (Open Water):

Being members of the "Utaka" ecological group, the life of the Kadango takes place away from the rocky cliffs. The tank must be an empty stage. A thick expanse of very fine sand on the bottom is recommended, decorated only with a couple of huge isolated boulders at the outer edges, which the dominant males will elect as a breeding site (building "bowers" or sand nests around them). Do not fill the center with stones as you would for Mbunas; you would deprive these athletes of their fundamental linear swimming space.

The Courtship Dance:

The displays of a *C. borleyi* male alone justify owning an aquarium. The male positions himself obliquely in front of the female, shivers violently extending his enormous, white-edged pelvic fins, the ends of which lengthen disproportionately into silky filaments. Females remain an elegant but modest silver/mouse-grey color with reddish fins.

Planktivorous Diet:

Their mouth forms an extensible tube that, in nature, sucks up copepods and small planktonic crustaceans. This means their diet MUST be protein-based. If forced to eat only Mbuna algae flakes, they will waste away. Regularly administer shrimp meat, freeze-dried krill, frozen brine shrimp, and carnivore flakes, with occasional Spirulina supplements.