TankBud

Blunthead cichlid

Tropheus moorii

Also known as Moorii, Tropheus, Kaiser cichlid, Blue Rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Blunthead cichlid (Tropheus moorii)
Bobby 111 (?) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
5.5 in
14 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rocky surge zones along the shores of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.

Overview

The blunthead cichlid is an active, aggressive grazer from Lake Tanganyika. It is a demanding fish for experienced keepers, not a beginner project.

Did you know

Keepers often say the safest way to hold blunthead cichlids is in a crowd. A big group spreads the bullying thin, instead of letting one fish get picked to death.

Caring for the blunthead cichlid

A single blunthead cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L), in a tank 4 ft (120 cm) long. Small groups bully each other badly, so keep either one fish among robust Tanganyikans or a colony of 15 or more. A colony needs 85 gal (320 L) or more, with plenty of rock to spread out its nonstop aggression.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed only vegetable-based foods such as spirulina flake, and never rich protein foods, since bloat kills quickly.

Blunthead cichlids are aggressive, so choose any tank mates with caution. Do not mix color races if you want pure fry. It is a maternal mouthbrooder that produces a small number of very large eggs and well-developed fry. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

The blunthead cichlid, Tropheus moorii, comes in dozens of geographic races, each with its own colors, from red and orange to yellow banded. Races from different shorelines can look completely different despite being the same species. Its gut is specialized for an algae diet, which makes it prone to a deadly digestive illness called bloat when fed the wrong foods.

In the wild

The blunthead cichlid grazes algae from rocks in the wave-washed shallows of Lake Tanganyika. It lives in loose colonies, but every fish defends its own feeding spot with constant squabbling.

Common questions

What size tank does a blunthead cichlid need?

A blunthead cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blunthead cichlid need?

A blunthead cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a blunthead cichlid eat?

A blunthead cichlid eats only vegetable-based foods, such as spirulina flake. Never give it rich protein foods, since bloat kills quickly.

How big does a blunthead cichlid get?

An adult blunthead cichlid reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).

How does a blunthead cichlid breed?

The blunthead cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder that produces a small number of very large eggs. Its fry are well developed, and breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Related species