Also called the Lavender Cichlid or Lavender Mbuna, the Rusty Cichlid is endemic to Lake Malawi, one of the African Great Lakes. These fish tend to inhabit the shallow waters along the shoreline in the southern part of the lake. Rusty Cichlids are named for the rusty brown coloration they exhibit as juveniles. As these fish mature, most specimens develop a lavender hue. The fins of these fish are usually golden brown in color with purple edging along the dorsal fin.