Scrapermouth mbuna
Labeotropheus trewavasae
Also known as Trewavas mbuna
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi (endemic, rocky shores)
Overview
The scrapermouth mbuna is an aggressive rock-dwelling cichlid for a crowded Lake Malawi mbuna tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The scrapermouth mbuna takes its name from its mouth. The mouth sits low and faces down, with a hard, flattened lower lip. The fish uses that lip to scrape algae off rocks at a steep angle most cichlids cannot manage.
Caring for the scrapermouth mbuna
Give scrapermouth mbuna at least 53 gal (200 L), with plenty of rockwork and caves. The rocks let each fish claim a territory and break up sight lines. They spend their time near the bottom, working the rocks.
Keep the water hard, alkaline and stable, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6. A buffering substrate such as aragonite or crushed coral holds the water hard and the pH high.
The scrapermouth mbuna is a scraping algae grazer, and its gut is built to process algae, not meat. Feed a spirulina-based diet and stay away from high-protein foods, which cause bloat.
Scrapermouth mbuna are aggressive and territorial, so keep them in an overstocked mbuna community, never a peaceful tank. Keep one male with four or more females. Stock heavily and watch for the male singling out one female, since spreading the aggression across the group keeps the peace.
Females are maternal mouthbrooders and hold the fertilized eggs and fry in their mouths until the fry are free swimming. Breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The scrapermouth mbuna, Labeotropheus trewavasae, is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, also known as the Trewavas mbuna. It comes in many color morphs, depending on the population. Most fish in the trade are tank bred.
In the wild
Scrapermouth mbuna are endemic to Lake Malawi, where they live along the rocky shores and graze algae off the stone. The lake is hard, alkaline and stable.
Common questions
What size tank does a scrapermouth mbuna need?
A scrapermouth mbuna needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a scrapermouth mbuna need?
A scrapermouth mbuna is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.
What does a scrapermouth mbuna eat?
A scrapermouth mbuna eats a spirulina-based diet, since it is a scraping algae grazer. Keep it away from high-protein foods, which cause bloat.
How big does a scrapermouth mbuna get?
An adult scrapermouth mbuna reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a scrapermouth mbuna breed?
The scrapermouth mbuna is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female holds the fertilized eggs and fry in her mouth until they are free swimming, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
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