Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)
Scientific name: Tropheus duboisi (Halembe)
Common name: Tropheus duboisi, Maswa, Wide Yellow Band
Region: Lake Tanganyika (shallow precipitous rocky habitat)
Size: max 5 inches (12.5 centimetres). Males are slightly larger than females.
Color: When young, they're completely black with white spots. As they mature, they lose the spots and become very dark brown, with an entirely blue face, and a wide yellow/white band
Water Chemistry: pH: 8.6, very hard water
Temperature: 77-79
Aggression: aggressive
Compatibility: You need to be most worried about their conspecific compatibility. Establish a colony right away, generally with only one male, and don't introduce new fish!
Diet: Herbivorous. The need a high-algae diet. Spirulina is an excellent food choice.
How to breed: Keep a large breeding colony with only one or two males. Remove the female from the tank once they've spawned. You may even need to strip the eggs.
General: These are a very interesting looking fish to have in your aquarium. They are very susceptible to bloat however, so keep the stress levels to a minimum. Provide plenty of rock-work. Also provide a lot of light, as this encourages algae growth on the rock-work, and your Tropheus will be able to graze constantly. |