Taiwan Reef Cichlid
Protomelas sp. Steveni Taiwan
Cichlidae
About
The Taiwan Reef is a spectacular haplochromine cichlid from the rocky reefs of Lake Malawi, named for the Taiwanee Reef locality where it is found. Dominant males glow electric blue across the body with a bold yellow-to-orange band along the back, while females and subdominant males stay a plainer silver. Relatively peaceful for a mbuna-adjacent hap, it is nonetheless a territorial fish whose males will spar, so it is best kept as a harem of one male with several females in a spacious, hard-water tank.
Care
House a harem of one male and three or more females in a tank of 300 L or more with a 120 cm footprint, sand substrate and open rockwork. Keep hard, alkaline Malawi water at pH 7.8-8.4 with brisk flow and strong filtration, and cover the tank securely.
Diet
Vegetable-leaning omnivore that grazes aufwuchs and small invertebrates. Feed a spirulina-rich cichlid pellet as the staple with occasional frozen foods; avoid rich, fatty proteins and overfeeding to prevent bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (3)
Possible with care (150)
Avoid (118)
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 Taiwan Reef Cichlid need?
- A Taiwan Reef Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 300 litres (79.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Taiwan Reef Cichlid need?
- Taiwan Reef Cichlid does best at 24–28 °C (75.2–82.4 °F), pH 7.6–8.6 and a general hardness of 8–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Taiwan Reef Cichlid need?
- Taiwan Reef Cichlid is a social species — keep a group of at least 4 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Taiwan Reef Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Taiwan Reef Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.