Tropheus

About

Tropheus moorii is a stocky, algae-grazing cichlid endemic to the rocky littoral zone of Lake Tanganyika, prized for the dozens of vividly coloured regional variants that hobbyists collect. Reaching around 14 cm, it is intensely aggressive toward its own kind, so it is kept only as a large colony in hard, alkaline water among heavy rockwork, where a settled pecking order diffuses the constant squabbling.

Care

Keep a colony of 15+ (ideally 15-20) in hard, alkaline water (pH 8.4-8.8) over sand with abundant rockwork in a tank of 300 L or more with strong flow and oxygenation. Feed a strictly herbivorous diet, keep water pristine, and never mix small numbers or protein-rich foods.

Diet

Herbivorous aufwuchs grazer; feed spirulina and vegetable-based foods with blanched greens in small, frequent portions. Protein-rich foods must be avoided as they cause fatal bloat.

Sources

• Seriously Fish — Tropheus moorii
• AquaInfo — Tropheus moorii
• FishBase — Tropheus moorii