White-spotted cichlid
Tropheus duboisi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–9.0
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika
Overview
The white-spotted cichlid is a Tropheus that holds in the middle and lower water, grazing constantly on rock surfaces. It is a fish for experienced keepers.
Did you know
Young white-spotted cichlids are black with white dots, a color stage that fades as the fish grows. Adults turn a deep blue-black, with a single yellow band behind the head. People sometimes buy the spotted juveniles without realizing the look is temporary.
Caring for the white-spotted cichlid
Give white-spotted cichlids a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L) with plenty of rock. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 9.0. Keep it clean, with high oxygen levels and good flow.
Feed vegetable and algae-based foods such as spirulina. Avoid protein-heavy feeding, which causes serious digestive problems.
Keep them in a large group of at least 15, which spreads aggression rather than letting it focus on one or two fish. They are mostly peaceful and safe with community tank mates.
The white-spotted cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding it is difficult.
Good to know
Tropheus duboisi is a Tanganyikan cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its gut is built for a high-fiber, algae-based diet.
In the wild
The white-spotted cichlid lives along the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika. It grazes algae off the rocks there, in clean, oxygen-rich water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The white-spotted cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social 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.
Multie shell dweller
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Cuckoo squeaker
Synodontis multipunctatus
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Even-Spotted squeaker
Synodontis petricola
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Tanganyika killifish
Lamprichthys tanganicanus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a white-spotted cichlid need?
A white-spotted cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a white-spotted cichlid need?
A white-spotted cichlid is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–9.0.
What does a white-spotted cichlid eat?
A white-spotted cichlid eats vegetable and algae-based foods such as spirulina. Avoid protein-heavy foods, which cause serious digestive problems.
How big does a white-spotted cichlid get?
An adult white-spotted cichlid reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a white-spotted cichlid breed?
A white-spotted cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding it is difficult.
Related species
4.3 in (11 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Blue-eyed tropheus
Tropheus brichardi
4.3 in (11 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blunthead cichlid
Tropheus moorii
5.5 in (14 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)34 gal (130 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Banded acara
Bujurquina vittata
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4.7 in (12 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Blockhead cichlid
Steatocranus casuarius
4.7 in (12 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)35 gal (134 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Electric yellow cichlid
Labidochromis caeruleus
4.7 in (12 cm) · 35 gal (134 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Powder blue cichlid
Chindongo socolofi
4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)