Iodotropheus sprengerae

Iodotropheus sprengerae, the rusty cichlid, lavender mbuna or lavender cichlid, is a small freshwater cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is restricted to islands and reefs in the southeastern arm of the lake, including the Boadzulu and Chinyankwazi Islands and the Chinyamwezi Island region. It is an elongate fish that grows to about 10.8 centimetres in standard length; juveniles and females are rusty brown, while mature males take on a lavender purple hue. It prefers water of about 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. Females are mouthbrooders and hold the fertilised eggs and the fry in the mouth for a few weeks before releasing the young. The species is considered one of the least aggressive of the mbuna, which makes it a popular starter fish for aquarists, and it is omnivorous. The effects of its limited range, the aquarium trade and increased sedimentation are unknown, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened. It is named in honour of Kappy Sprenger, an aquarist, author and artist from Los Gatos, California, whose efforts to have the fish correctly identified led to its recognition as an undescribed species.