Tropheus Yellow Cheek Mpimbwe

Tropheus are very popular in the aquarium among hobbyists. How to best keep these fishes causes much debate among hobbyists. Their highly aggressive conspecific behavior and their tendency to catch “bloat” make them a real challenge. All Tropheus species are algae browsers in the wild and therefore their diet should consist mostly of (but not all!) vegetable matter. Since they are highly aggressive to conspecifics, so it is advisable to keep groups of at least a dozen or more in order to spread out aggression. Their wide variety of available colors and their enthusiasm at feeding time makes them a favorite, despite their challenges.

Although Tropheus can be kept in fairly bare aquaria, several separate piles of rocks should be created (instead of a continuous rocky reef) so that individuals can more easily evade one another thanks to broken sight lines. Lighting should be bright to encourage the growth of algae over the décor, which these herbivores will enjoy browsing upon. Sharp rocks (such as lava rock) should not be used as they can cause damage to the mouths of these fishes as they graze.

• Species – Tropheus Mpimbwe
• Common Name – Tropheus Yellow Cheek
• Origin – Northern Lake Tanganyika, Africa
• Diet – Herbivore
• PH Range – 7.8 – 9.0
• Temperature – Tropical 22–28°c
• Breed Type – Mouth Brooder
• Max Size – approximately 12cm
• Sex – MALE