TankBud

Blue-eyed tropheus

Tropheus brichardi

Also known as ulwile

FreshwaterFish

Blue-eyed tropheus (Tropheus brichardi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
37 gal
140 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The blue-eyed tropheus is an algae grazer for a rock-filled tank of Tanganyikan cichlids. It needs a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Female blue-eyed tropheus brood their eggs and fry in the mouth for about four weeks. That is one of the longest mouthbrooding periods among cichlids.

Caring for the blue-eyed tropheus

A single blue-eyed tropheus needs at least 37 gal (140 L) with plenty of rock caves. Stack the rock over a sand bed, so the fish have surfaces to graze and territories to hold. Bright lighting encourages the algae it grazes, and the water should stay clean and well oxygenated.

Hold the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0, with high hardness. Diet is the critical part of its care, because too much protein triggers the digestive illness known as bloat. Feed a low protein, vegetable based cichlid food, and offer rich meaty foods only rarely.

Small groups tend to bully each other badly. Keep either a single fish among robust Tanganyikans, or a large colony of 15 or more in a much bigger tank. A single fish is only moderately assertive and mixes with other rock dwellers of similar size. Despite a fierce reputation, it is fairly peaceful toward other species and mostly squabbles with its own kind.

Like all Tropheus, it is a maternal mouthbrooder of medium breeding difficulty. The female lays only a small number of large eggs and picks them up almost at once. She later releases a handful of big, fully formed fry. A settled colony breeds steadily once the fish are mature and their diet stays low in protein.

Good to know

Tropheus brichardi is a stocky member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, with a strong personality. It is a herbivore.

In the wild

The blue-eyed tropheus comes from the rocky shoreline of Lake Tanganyika. It grazes the film of algae and tiny life that coats the stones in the shallows. The water there is hard, alkaline and mineral rich.

Common questions

What size tank does a blue-eyed tropheus need?

A blue-eyed tropheus needs at least 37 gal (140 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blue-eyed tropheus need?

A blue-eyed tropheus is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a blue-eyed tropheus eat?

A blue-eyed tropheus eats a low protein, vegetable based cichlid food. Offer rich meaty foods only rarely, since too much protein triggers the digestive illness known as bloat.

How big does a blue-eyed tropheus get?

An adult blue-eyed tropheus reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

How does a blue-eyed tropheus breed?

The blue-eyed tropheus is a maternal mouthbrooder of medium breeding difficulty. The female lays a few large eggs and picks them up almost at once. She later releases a handful of big, fully formed fry.

Related species