TankBud

Pinstripe damba cichlid

Paretroplus menarambo

Also known as Pin stripe damba

FreshwaterFish

Pinstripe damba cichlid (Paretroplus menarambo)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
79–84°F
26–29°C
pH
7.0–8.5
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
95 gal
360 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Madagascar

Overview

The pinstripe damba cichlid is a large Madagascan cichlid for a roomy tank. It suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

The pinstripe damba cichlid was once classified as extinct in the wild, before a surviving population was found in Lake Tseny. Much of what still swims is kept by aquarists, public aquariums and zoos. That makes the hobby part of the effort to keep the species alive.

Caring for the pinstripe damba cichlid

Give pinstripe damba cichlids at least 95 gal (360 L) and a deep, soft sand bed, since they like to sift and forage. Add smooth rock and driftwood for cover and spawning surfaces, and leave plenty of open water for such a large, tall fish.

Keep the water at 79 to 84°F (26 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5, neutral to slightly alkaline and moderately hard. These heavy feeders produce a lot of waste and are sensitive to poor water. Strong filtration and regular water changes are essential.

Feed a varied diet built on a good cichlid pellet, plus frozen foods and some vegetable matter. Add occasional snails, since these fish are natural mollusk eaters.

Keep a shoal of five or six rather than a lone fish or a single pair. The group is mostly peaceful outside of breeding, but a spawning pair will clear a territory. Give the fish room and structure to spread out.

The pinstripe damba cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner. A pair cleans a firm surface, lays its eggs there, and both fish guard the eggs and fry. Pairing up and breeding these big, waste-heavy fish is hard and takes a lot of space.

Good to know

The pinstripe damba cichlid belongs to the family Cichlidae and is one of the Paretroplus cichlids native to Madagascar. It is a silvery, deep-bodied fish with fine dark pinstripes along its flanks. It is listed as critically endangered in the wild.

In the wild

The pinstripe damba cichlid is found only in the floodplain lakes and slow rivers of the Sofia River system in northwestern Madagascar. The water there is warm and calm.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The pinstripe damba cichlid is a mostly peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a pinstripe damba cichlid need?

A pinstripe damba cichlid needs at least 95 gal (360 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a pinstripe damba cichlid need?

A pinstripe damba cichlid is comfortable at 79–84°F (26–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.

What does a pinstripe damba cichlid eat?

A pinstripe damba cichlid eats a varied diet built on a good cichlid pellet, with frozen foods and some vegetable matter. It also takes occasional snails, since it naturally eats mollusks.

How big does a pinstripe damba cichlid get?

An adult pinstripe damba cichlid reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Does a pinstripe damba cichlid need a group?

Yes. A pinstripe damba cichlid is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a pinstripe damba cichlid breed?

Pinstripe damba cichlids are biparental substrate spawners. A pair cleans a firm surface and lays its eggs there, and both fish guard the eggs and fry. Breeding them is hard and needs a lot of space.

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