Malawi trout cichlid
Champsochromis caeruleus
Also known as Trout cichlid, Caeruleus hap
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 185 gal (700 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
A streamlined open-water predator built for speed, and one of the larger Malawi cichlids. It is solitary and aggressive, best kept singly or as one male with females in a very large tank, never with small fish. It patrols the open middle water chasing prey, so it needs length above all, and only big, robust tankmates that cannot be caught and swallowed. Feed meaty foods and expect a strong appetite. This fish needs the longest tank in the plan, 700 liters or more, with clear swimming room.
In the wild
Champsochromis caeruleus ranges through the open water of Lake Malawi, chasing schools of small fish across the lake. A tank for it should favor open space over decor, with a sand floor, minimal rockwork set low, and long uninterrupted swimming lanes. Keep the water hard and alkaline like the lake, warm at 24 to 27 C with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, and use powerful filtration and good flow for a large, active swimmer.
Good to know
This species belongs to the Cichlidae and reaches about 32 centimeters, iridescent blue over a slim, trout-like body. Its genus name Champsochromis is built from the Greek for crocodile, a nod to its predatory snout, while the species name caeruleus is simply Latin for blue. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is hard. In the wild it is a pursuit predator that feeds largely on the small Malawi sardine.
Did you know
Its genus name means crocodile cichlid while its common name calls it a trout, two very different hunters borrowed for one fish. What both capture is the point: a fast, streamlined body made for running prey down in open water.
Common questions
What size tank does a Malawi trout cichlid need?
A Malawi trout cichlid needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Malawi trout cichlid need?
Malawi trout cichlid are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Malawi trout cichlid get?
An adult Malawi trout cichlid reaches about 12.6 in (32 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Malawi trout cichlid?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Malawi trout cichlid fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this species on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related species
Spilo
Champsochromis spilorhynchusFreshwater15.7 in (40 cm)125 gal (475 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackbelt Cichlid
Vieja maculicaudaFreshwater12.6 in (32 cm)66 gal (250 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Frontosa cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosaFreshwater12.6 in (32 cm)227 gal (860 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Elongate lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus elongatusFreshwater12.6 in (32 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Yellow buccochromis
Buccochromis rhoadesiiFreshwater13.4 in (34 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Gold Saum
Andinoacara rivulatusFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)75 gal (285 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)