Duboisi Tropheus
Tropheus duboisi
Cichlidae
About
The Duboisi Tropheus is a robust, rock-dwelling cichlid endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika, famous for its jet-black juveniles peppered with brilliant white spots that mature into a black body crossed by a broad yellow or blue band. It is a demanding herbivore that grazes algae from rocks and must be kept in a large, hard-water colony to spread out its intense intraspecific aggression.
Care
Keep a large colony of 15 or more in a spacious 300 L+ tank with abundant rockwork, hard alkaline water and strong filtration. Feed a strict vegetable diet to prevent bloat, and never mix with protein-hungry tankmates.
Diet
Obligate herbivore adapted to scraping algal aufwuchs from rock surfaces. Offer spirulina-based flakes and blanched greens in frequent small meals; any significant protein or overfeeding readily causes deadly bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (75)
Avoid (196)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Duboisi Tropheus need?
- A Duboisi Tropheus needs an aquarium of at least 300 litres (79.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 150 cm (59.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Duboisi Tropheus need?
- Duboisi Tropheus does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 8–9.5 and a general hardness of 8–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Duboisi Tropheus need?
- Duboisi Tropheus is a social species — keep a group of at least 15 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Duboisi Tropheus suitable for beginners?
- Duboisi Tropheus is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.