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Lake Tanganyika 

Collections and stocks have recently been shrinking from several suppliers on Lake Tanganyika. Some of the long time exporters seem to have lost interest in the work and remain mostly inactive now. Many of the most popular bred items are still available from specialized breeders and consolidators. Importers are demanding only the ‘hard to get’ items for their customers, knowing that these fishes will always sell. 
 

Infrequently collected north of Moliro, Congo and exported from Zambia, Tropheus moorii Kiku has a bright red patch in the throat area.	Reportedly from the Congo coast, Cyprichromis microlepidotus Kassei sports pleasant hues and is irregularly available as wild imports.
Also originally found north of Moliro, Congo, Xenotilapia papillio Tembwe is a small, delicate fish, now generally available through breeders.	Collected in Moba, Congo, Cyprichromis leptosoma saddleback is a boldly colored morph. Individual fish from this place can vary within the population with different colors of blue and yellow.

Lake Malawi

Wild-caught material is available in reasonable quantities from most parts of Tanzania and Malawi. Interest from importers seemed to have waned however, due to large on-hand stocks purchased from local breeders. These breeders obtained their breeding stock during the flood of imports over the last few years. Reportedly in Europe, many hobbyists are satisfied with these less expensive bred fish, and buy them directly from the local breeders when possible.  
 

Lethrinops species are not only often confusing, but they are becoming more popular in Europe and elsewhere. Here Tramitichromis lituris Mdoka displays bold fin coloration and is often collected south of Itungi Port, Tanzania.	An oddity collected from Makonde, Tanzania, and infrequently available, Pseudotropheus benetos is an interesting cichlid. This fish can be aggressive, even for the most experienced mbuna hobbyist!
A rare find and only generally available from breeders, Mylochromis plagiotaenia originally hails from the southern end of the lake.	Regularly available in the 1970s from Cape Maclear, Malawi, Tropheops microstoma is a boldly-colored sand mbuna that has been recently exported again.
A member of the elongatus group of mbuna, Pseudotropheus cyaneus is from Chinyamwezi Island, Malawi. Its small size and bright yellow-orange head make it a nice addition for those who can obtain these cichlids.	Bred in Germany from a selected mix of Malawi species, Aulonocara ‘Firefish’ is popular because of the bright orange-red coloration. This fish seems to be a continuation of the new designer strains of the popular Malawi peacocks.

Lake Victoria

There is no more news about wild collections from anywhere in the Victorian basin countries. Citing difficulties in logistics and sales, collectors have now stopped their recent efforts. However, several interesting items are still available, especially from the countries where hobbyists have taken an interest in these Victorian cichlids.  
 

Only available from specialized breeders, Pundamilia red head nyererei can sport strong red and green coloration and is still infrequently seen for sale.

Another cichlid bred primarily in Europe, ‘Haplochromis’ red back scraper can be found occasionally available from wholesalers there.

West Africa

Cichlids supplies continue to dribble in from the exporting countries in West Africa. Several collectors and exporters are finding it hard to keep prices low as most all items needed to run their businesses continue to increase at alarming rates. It seems that these exporters may eventually be forced to increase their fish prices.  
 

Collected from Lake Barombi-Mbo, Cameroon, Myaka myaka is infrequently exported. The boldly contrasting black and white markings, along with its active behavior, make this fish an interesting addition.

Sometimes found incidentally mixed in bags of fishes imported from Cameroon, this cichlid may be Parananochromis caudifasciatus.

Neotropics

Cichlids from the tropical parts of the new world come from many sources.  Several importers carry most items from the exporting countries, whereas there are also a few who just import specialty cichlids like discus.  There are also many breeders in many places in the world who produce large numbers of several popular species.  Other breeders only produce selective cichlid types, some of which were originally collected by these breeders. 
 

Collected from Alenquer area in Brazil, Symphysodon discus Curipera is a red brown variety with strong red hues. Often these wild discus are only available from specialty dealers.

Hypselecara temporalis or the chocolate cichlid, is one of many neotropical species that is commercially bred in large numbers for fish stores sales. Note the distinctive red eye ring.