CICHLIDS OF LAKE TANGANYIKA.
Order Perciformes ( Perciformes )
Family Cichlidae ( Cichlidae )
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
Continued…
Genus Tropheus — Tropheus.
— Tropheus duboisi [Marlier, 1959] — Duboisi Cichlid. (Eng. Duboisi Cichlid, White Spotted Cichlid). An exceptionally graceful and sharp-moving fish inhabiting rocky areas of the northwestern and eastern parts of Tanganyika’s coastal biotopes. This zone consists of rocky massifs covered with a lush carpet of algae. 10-13 cm, in the aquarium up to 15 cm, females are smaller. This size is reached predominantly by dominant males in 3-4 years. The fish has a slightly elongated body, with a large head and eyes.
The species Tropheus duboisi occurs in the lake in various geographic variants that differ from each other in width, coloration, and lightness of body stripes. The appearance of these Tropheus is quite specific and clearly differs from other members of the genus. The body is coffee-blue. The head is grey-blue with blue pigment, as are the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. A wide transverse stripe, ranging from white to yellow (depending on the race), runs along the flank closer to the head. The fins are dark blue with black edges and small yellowish spots.
When comparing various Tropheus, the mouth of Tropheus duboisi is slightly more elongated. The position of the mouth when grasping food has a significant angle relative to the substrate compared to T. moorii. The feeding position of T. moorii is more horizontal, which provides them with a stable position in the turbulent waters of the rocky shore.
Fry have an amazing coloration: dark blue or dark brown with rows of dazzling white stars on the flanks. As the fish grow, the number of spots increases, and after 12 months of age, they begin to gradually disappear, and by one and a half years, the fish completely assume the coloration of their parents. In adult fish, these spots disappear, but a light transverse stripe appears instead. The head of adult fish is lighter than the main body color. The coloration of the body stripes and the blue mask on the head fades with age.
The main color of the fish later becomes black, which contrasts with the blue color of the head and the white or yellowish-white color of the transverse stripes starting from the pelvic fin. Body stripes can vary in width and coloration, sometimes being barely noticeable and other times contrasting. Particularly beautiful specimens have yellow transverse stripes one centimeter wide. At the same time, the body color is not a sign of quality. A color variant of fish with a blue mask on the head, silver eyes, and a yellow stripe across the body is known. Of course, specimens lacking body stripes are less attractive. The width and coloration of body stripes can be influenced through selective breeding.
Males and females have the same coloration. The coloration of females is less intense, while males have more developed pelvic fins. Male specimens possess curved, long pelvic fins that can reach the anal fin. The Maswa form, featuring a transverse yellow-white stripe occupying half the body, is particularly beautiful.
Color morphs: — T. duboisi “Bemba” – up to 12 centimeters. Familiar transverse stripes appear first. Later, stripes develop on the black body with a coffee tint, reaching the dorsal fin and ranging in shade from yellow to bright orange. The brightness of the stripes largely depends on nutrition. Frightened fish lose their color. Sexual maturity occurs at 1 year; — T. duboisi “Bulu Point” – In trade, Bulu Point are called two-spotted Moori. All fish of this species have two spots on their flank, which, however, can vary in size and color. The most beautiful color variant is two bright red spots on a black background. The upper part of the iris has a red-orange tint. Some individuals have spots on the caudal fin. The spots are best visible in male specimens. Some females have orange stripes instead. Juveniles lack the distinctive features of adults. The color of the spots intensifies with age, so sub-adults sometimes have a rather dull coloration. The color intensity of the red spots strongly depends on nutrition. This species is very aggressive, and a cohesive group is necessary for their successful maintenance;
— T. duboisi “Ikola Kaizer” – Have bright yellow stripes on the body, sometimes greenish-yellow. The most beautiful specimens possess bright yellow wide stripes on the body. The fish are not prone to color change; they are always beautiful. This is especially true for females, which are barely different from their male partners. Coloration develops quite slowly. Fish fully mature and assume permanent coloration only after two years; — T. duboisi “Ilangi” – All representatives of the species have a greenish-yellow body coloration combined with yellow-orange elements. Despite being a southern species, its representatives lack speckles on the head. There is a yellow ring around the eye. The dorsal fin has a stunning red color. As adults, these fish have no stripes, and their coloration does not depend on mood; — T. duboisi “Kachese” – Yellow and green tones characterize the coloration of this species. Recently imported “red” varieties fascinate with a stunning shade of red, which, however, strongly depends on nutrition. A forehead stripe between the eyes is not present in all fish. Juveniles, besides the forehead stripe, may have noticeable red spots and a yellow belly. With age, a blue tint appears on the throat and red stripes on the snout in the gill region. Female specimens retain juvenile stripes more clearly;
— T. duboisi “Kiriza” – This species has a glowing black base coloration. There are few Tropheus varieties in which the black body itself glows. A yellow stripe extending into the dorsal fin contrasts with the body color. This stripe reaches a width of one and a half centimeters. Juveniles of this species glow better than others, and their pattern appears earlier than others. There are populations where the stripe width approaches that of the Kifumbwe variety. Females usually have narrow stripes. Varieties with orange stripes also occur, but this is very rare; — T. duboisi “Maswa” – With a transverse yellow-white stripe occupying half of the body; — T. duboisi “Murago” – There are several color varieties in aquariums. The so-called Zongwe-Murago attracts with a pleasant shade of yellow. Characteristic of this Tropheus variety are pearlescent speckles on the head of adult specimens. These are predominantly present in male specimens. Unfortunately, these dots are not equally well visible in all individuals. The body is covered with bright stripes, typical of southern Tropheus species. Dominant males sometimes lack these stripes.
It is advisable to keep fish in a species aquarium with a volume of 100 liters or more, in a group of 5-6 fish, in a ratio of 4 females to 2-3 males. In nature, fish feed almost exclusively on algal Aufwuchs and small crustaceans and insect larvae hidden within them. This determines their pronounced territorial behavior in the aquarium, the volume of which must be at least 300 liters with a length of 1.5 m or more. Fish are often aggressive towards each other, so to prevent clashes, it is advisable to purchase very young fish so they get used to each other and conflicts are minimized.
In case of fights between fish, the instigators will have to be removed. T. moorii and T. duboisi get along wonderfully in the same aquarium, provided there are enough spawning sites. They stay predominantly in the lower water layers. It is best to purchase and keep them in small groups (6-15 fish with females outnumbering males 2-3 times) in spacious aquariums with plenty of hiding places near the bottom and right at the water surface. In a group consisting of one male and several females, clashes occur only between females, while the male is clearly the leader.
In the aquarium, the male claims a territory and aggressively defends it against competitors. When there are two males in a group, they try to establish their territories as far apart as possible. If there is a single continuous rocky “reef” in your aquarium, probably only the single strongest male will claim it entirely, while others will yield to his attacks. Tropheus fight mainly among themselves, paying no attention to other inhabitants. Each male needs a territory approximately 75 cm in diameter. If there are too few females, the pursuits of males constantly in breeding condition can be very persistent.
The aquarium should contain hiding places in the form of caves, stones, and grottoes, the number of which must exceed the number of fish in the aquarium. You should know that introducing a new fish into the aquarium is very problematic, as the fish remember each other well and often beat newcomers to death. When cleaning the aquarium, you should not radically change the positions of the hiding places where the fish are accustomed to hiding, as they get used to a chosen grotto or stone and will take a long time to adapt to a new environment.
They are very demanding regarding water quality. The water in Lake Tanganyika is quite hard and alkaline. Its parameters are very stable and barely change across seasons. Cichlids in the lake have adapted to these specific conditions, and thus live wonderfully in water with pH 7.5-9.0. If the pH is lower, they breed poorly and are very vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. Acidic water (pH below 7) can be compensated for cichlids by adding salt. The aquarium must have a powerful, continuously operating filtration system. Regular water changes are essential for the well-being of the fish; it is precisely after water changes that the colors of these magnificent fish flare up. It is advisable to add table salt to the water at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 100 liters of water, as well as a few drops of iodine, or simply add iodized salt at a rate of 1-2 g per liter of water. Avoid making the water too salty. Water temperature should be 25-27°C. Temperatures above 28°C for prolonged periods are harmful to cichlids.
In nature, the diet of Tropheus consists mainly of algae growing on rocks. Cylindrical teeth facilitate the collection of unicellular algae. The algal carpet on rocks is not very lush, and the fish must therefore move from one rock to another to get enough food. The fish is omnivorous, consuming not only algae but also eagerly swallowing sediment, which contains small invertebrates living mainly on the surface of rocks and cliffs. Consequently, the digestive tract is quite long, capable of assimilating a low-calorie diet to the maximum possible extent.
The fish’s diet in an aquarium setting should therefore consist of plant-based foods (lettuce, dry foods based on plant proteins). It is good to feed cyclops; besides its direct purpose, cyclops contains carotenoids that positively affect the coloration of Tropheus (especially young specimens). Do not feed Tropheus animal-origin foods. Live food acts as a supplementary treat for them. These products are excessively fatty and can provoke intestinal blockage, thereby causing rapid infection of the digestive tract. Thick, dark feces are proof of a healthy diet. Semi-transparent, fibrous, or excessively long feces are a clear sign of abnormal digestion. Adult Tropheus should be fed only once a day.
They mature at 14-18 months. To avoid inbreeding, it is important that the group consists of offspring from different parents, preferably from different stores and breeders. Males can be rough and aggressive towards females and even injure them when they are not yet ready for mating. Spawning occurs in the main aquarium where the fish permanently reside. Before spawning, the male selects a suitable stone and digs a small pit under it. The female releases eggs into the pit or onto the walls of a nearby stone, then takes them into her mouth and immediately hides in a shelter with the eggs in her mouth. The female incubates the eggs, constantly making “chewing movements,” for 3-4 weeks at a temperature of 25-27°C, after which fry appear. The fry acquire their magnificent coloration by 2-3 months. Only females care for the offspring. The fish grow quickly. Cases of hybridization with other Tropheus species are extremely rare. They live in an aquarium for over 15 years. pH 7.5-8.7; dH 8-22°; T 25-27°C.
— Tropheus polli [Axelrod, 1977] — Poll’s Tropheus. (Eng. Poll’s Tropheus, Wimpel Moorii). Lake Tanganyika, rocky biotopes. Up to 16 cm, in the aquarium 8-15 cm. Males are malachite-grey or brown with a lyre-shaped tail, silvery body stripes, and emerald eyes. In active adult males, the transverse stripes disappear, and the background becomes bluish-grey with a brownish tint. Eyes are green. Females and juveniles are silvery-brown with dark vertical stripes. An aggressive territorial species, therefore each requires a shelter. Stays in the middle and lower water layers.
Striped fry usually stay in a school. As they mature, intra- and interspecific aggressiveness increases. The fish likes clean, oxygen-rich, alkaline water. Stable hydrochemical and temperature regimes, and a varied, nutritious diet (combination of plant and animal foods) are mandatory. Feed the fish plant food with the addition of squid fillet, sea scallop, daphnia, bloodworms 3-4 times a day. Mature in 12-16 months. pH 7.3-9.2; dH 8-22°; T 25-28°C.
Tropheus moorii and its color variations.
Tropheus annectens, Tropheus brichardi. 
