TankBud

Red cheek tropheops

Tropheops sp. 'Red Cheek'

Also known as Red cheek mbuna, Tropheops red cheek, Pseudotropheus tropheops red cheek

FreshwaterFish

Red cheek tropheops (Tropheops sp. 'Red Cheek')

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.6–8.6
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
74 gal
280 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa.

Overview

The Red cheek tropheops is an aggressive mbuna that suits a rocky tank. It is a good fish once you have kept a few easier ones.

Did you know

The Red cheek tropheops is named for the bright red flush on the cheeks and gill covers of dominant males. Only the dominant male wears it in full, so a tank of subordinate fish can look surprisingly plain until one takes charge.

Caring for the Red cheek tropheops

Keep one male Red cheek tropheops with several females, in a rocky tank of at least 74 gal (280 L). Provide caves, and start with a group so the fish can sort out territories.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6. Feed a vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae pellets, with light frozen treats.

It is a territorial mbuna, so pair it with other sturdy rock dwellers and choose tank mates with caution. Males are dark to blue, while females are usually plain brown or yellow. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding is easy.

Good to know

The Red cheek tropheops, Tropheops sp. 'Red Cheek', is one of many undescribed color forms in the Tropheops group. It is still traded under a location or nickname rather than a full species name. It is a steep-sided algae grazer. Its genus was once lumped into Pseudotropheus before being recognized on its own.

In the wild

The Red cheek tropheops grazes algae along the rocky coasts of Lake Malawi, in East Africa. It holds and defends a feeding territory on the rocks.

Common questions

What size tank does a Red cheek tropheops need?

A Red cheek tropheops needs at least 74 gal (280 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Red cheek tropheops need?

A Red cheek tropheops is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.

What does a Red cheek tropheops eat?

A Red cheek tropheops eats a vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae pellets. Give it light frozen treats as well.

How big does a Red cheek tropheops get?

An adult Red cheek tropheops reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How can you tell a male Red cheek tropheops from a female?

Males are dark to blue, while females are usually plain brown or yellow.

How does a Red cheek tropheops breed?

The Red cheek tropheops is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is easy.

Related species