Commonly known as a Blunthead cichlid, these mouth brooder fish belong to the Cichlidae family and are sought after by aquarium hobbyists and breeders.

Tropheus Moorii are native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa and are readily caught in the rocky areas. They are popular in the aquarium hobby due to their brilliant colours and patterns.

With over 40 varieties, T. Moorii’s colours can range from dark red or black with a single stripe to orange or yellow with many stripes. These fish are not large, but can grow as long as six inches.

Tropheus Moorii Diet

To raise and breed T. Moorii, special care is required; therefore, it is not recommended for the novice aquarist. They have delicate digestive tracts and their diet must consist of vegetable matter.

For flake food, only the green flakes should be used because it contains a high concentration of spirulina. Supplement their diet with leaves of lettuce or spinach. Do not feed them brine shrimp or bloodworms because they are too soft.

Without the necessary roughage in their diets, their bowels become irritated. In turn, this will stress the fish and make them more susceptible to a fatal intestinal infection called “bloat”. T. Moorii love to eat algae so use a bright light to encourage algae growth in the tank.

Tropheus Moorii Colonization

T. Moorii need to be kept as a family and added to a tank all at once. No more fish should be added to the colony at a later date. The male is very territorial and capable of killing its tank mates if made angry.

The ideal colony should consist of one male with numerous females. Some experienced aquarists have been successful with large colonies containing two males but it can be risky. Each male needs his own territory and hiding place in the tank, so one rock cave per male has to be provided.

The best way to start a colony is to buy one that is already established. Don’t add additional fish from outside the colony. Another option is to buy fry and add them all at once to the tank. That way, they claim their territory at the same time.

T. Moorii can be expensive to buy and some varieties cost more than others. This is another reason why a beginner aquarist should not raise these fish. Once more experience is gained, breeding these fish can be profitable.

Tropheus Moorii Breeding

Determining the sex of the male can be difficult. When compared to a female, the male has a tendency to have a larger upper lip and more of a turned up nose. The male will be more colourful and have a deeper body. If there is more than one male in a colony, only the dominant male will display a brilliant colour.

The females are mouth brooders but do not produce a large number of fry (maybe 10 babies or less per batch). The pregnant female continues to eat, whereas many female cichlids of other species will not eat when brooding.

Although Tropheus Moorii have a rigid diet and extreme territorial instincts, their brilliant and unusual colours are absolutely stunning in an aquarium!

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