mˈoʊst spˈiːsiːz əkˈɜːɹ ɐlˈɔŋ ðə kˈoʊstəl fɹˈɪndʒᵻz ʌvðə lˈeɪk æt dˈɛpθs lˈɛs ðɐn θɹˈiː ˈɛm. ðiːz ɹˈɑːki ʃˈoːɹz, wɪð nˈuːmɚɹəs ɹˈɑːki ˈaʊtkɹɑːpɪŋz ænd bˈoʊldɚ fɔːɹmˈeɪʃənz, fˈɔːɹm ɐ hˈæbɪtˌæt sˈɪmɪlɚ tə mˈɛnɪəv ðɪ ˈɛmbˈuːnə sˈɪtʃlɪdz ʌv lˈeɪk mɐlˈɑːwi.
Most species occur along the coastal fringes of the lake at depths less than 3 m. These rocky shores, with numerous rocky outcroppings and boulder formations, form a habitat similar to many of the mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi.