Threadfin cichlid
Petrochromis trewavasae
Also known as Threadfin Petrochromis, Trewavasae
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 159 gal
- 600 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
Overview
This large, aggressive grazer needs a tank of at least 600 liters and a big group to spread out its constant fighting. Keep the water hard and alkaline at 24 to 27 C, pH 7.6 to 8.6. Feed only vegetable based foods such as spirulina flake and avoid rich protein, which brings on bloat. It is a fish for experienced Tanganyika keepers rather than beginners.
In the wild
The threadfin cichlid grazes algae from rocks in Lake Tanganyika, scraping the film off stone with specialized brush like teeth. Its trailing fin filaments give it the threadfin name. It holds and defends feeding territories on the rock face.
Good to know
Petrochromis trewavasae is a maternal mouthbrooder and a dedicated algae grazer, much like Tropheus. Its lips are packed with tiny three pointed teeth for combing algae off rocks. Like Tropheus it has a specialized gut and suffers bloat if fed the wrong diet.
Did you know
Its lips are so densely lined with tiny teeth that it can shave algae off bare rock like a wire brush.
Common questions
What size tank does a Threadfin cichlid need?
A Threadfin cichlid needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Threadfin cichlid need?
A Threadfin cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.
How big does a Threadfin cichlid get?
An adult Threadfin cichlid reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Related species
7.1 in (18 cm)46 gal (175 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Fuelleborn's cichlid
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
7.1 in (18 cm) · 46 gal (175 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Petrotilapia
Petrotilapia sp.
7.1 in (18 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
7.2 in (18.2 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ornate hap
Protomelas ornatus
7.2 in (18.2 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
7.7 in (19.5 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Diagramma cichlid
Simochromis diagramma
7.7 in (19.5 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Beak peacock
Aulonocara rostratum
7.9 in (20 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)74 gal (280 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Silver saum
Andinoacara stalsbergi
7.9 in (20 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)