Malawi eye-biter
Dimidiochromis compressiceps
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 7.6–9
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Lifespan
- 8–12 yrs
Slender ambush predator that eats any fish small enough to swallow; house only with large Malawi cichlids in a long tank.Slender ambush predator that eats any fish small enough to swallow; house only with large Malawi cichlids in a long tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Agassiz's cory
Malawi eye biter may eat Agassiz's coryMalawi eye biter may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpMalawi eye biter may eat Amano shrimpMalawi eye biter may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Malawi eye biter may eat American flagfishMalawi eye biter may eat American flagfish
Assassin snailMalawi eye biter may eat Assassin snailMalawi eye biter may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Bandit cory
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Black kuhli loach
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Black neon tetraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Black phantom tetra
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Black ruby barb
Malawi eye biter may eat Black ruby barbMalawi eye biter may eat Black ruby barb
- Blackline rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Bleeding heart tetra
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.6–9 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 10–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Lake Malawi, Africa | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |