This species was regarded as a specialist feeding on eyes of other fishes, hence the name Eyebiter, but such behaviour has never been observed in the wild or aquarium. This predatory cichlid can reach a length of about 21 centimeters. The females are considerably smaller than the males. The mouth is quite large and jaws are relatively long, reaching about one-third of the body length. This variant of the Malawi Eye Biter is the result of a hybrid cross with an OB mbuna. As a result, it is shorter than its "pure" haplochromine forebearers.