Pretroplus damii (Bleeker 1867) is the type species of the Madagascan genus Paretroplus, a family of around 15 described and maybe 4 or 5 undescribed species which have been caught or described and may or may not exist.
This cichlid is considered the holy grail of many Malagasy fans due to it's rarity and stunning orange and dark red breeding colouration. Very few exist in captivity and most are owned by a handful of breeders which makes this fish unavailable commercially.
This can be a very large cichlid - up to 16 inches which is found in the Northwest of mainland Madagascar and also reported from the Island of Nosey Be. Northern populations - the Dridrimena with it,s large lips and red tinged fins may represent a distinct closely related species. The fish is found both in freshwater rivers and lakes but also in brackish esturies - indeed it can survive well in saline water if slowly acclimatised.
The closest relative to this species appears to be the Paretroplus kieneri clade and it also has simikar traits with the various Lamena species. It's similarity to the high bodied Damba is less close and it is a possibility that these could be placed in their own family as could the Polyactis clade.
Luckily Malagasy cichlids are becoming increasingly available and most are large, beautiful and hardy species. On the downside they must be the hardest cichlids to succesfulky breed.
The damii aquarium should be large - 4*2*2 being a good size and should also be warm at around 89 f. Water composition is not crucial but they like bogwood and rocks - plants will be detroyed. Threse fish are hugely susceptible to whitespot and should be treated immediately as they have little immunity to this ailment. Paretroplus can also be affected by a disease diubbed 'whitening' where the body pales and sloughs white mucus. This can be treated with high temperstures and salt but is often fatal.
