Above: In this picture a young premium quality Tanganyika Cherry Spot Tropheus Moorii Cichlid is swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.
Comments: These fish have dark bodies, with bright red spots.
Origin: The ancestors of Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids lived in Lake Tanganyika at Bulu Point, which on the east side Lake Tanganyika about half-way from the northern end to the southern end of the Lake.
Maximum Size: In aquariums, they are able to grow to be about 6" long, including their tails, which is a nice big size for aquariums of 80-gallons and greater.
Females tend to remain a little smaller.
Behaviors: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids are usually rather aggressive fish, and males are very aggressive to each other.
Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, Malawi Peacocks, mild tempered Mbunas like the Lemon Yellow Mbuna, and Synodontis Catfish, also other Cichlid species Lake Tanganyika.
Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes is the best food for Tropheus to eat.
They will almost always get bloat and die, if fed Tubifex or Black Worms. All other rich foods are also dangerous to their health. The best food is the green Fish Food Flakes.
In their natural habitat the Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids graze off the rocks, eating the algae and the tiny animals that live in the algae.
Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: These fish need hard alkaline water with a pH of 7.8 to 8.8 and lots of dissolved minerals.
Most of the water in the US has a lower pH and is not as hard, so hobbyists often add special salts to the water for these fish.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 80-gallons of water.
Each Cichlid will need at least 5-gallons of water.
Decor: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but this fish will usually dig plants up, so most aquariums with Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids do not have live plants.
They like medium size gravel about the size of rice mixed with a few aquarium-safe rocks.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.
Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for at least two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids.
Better is a 100, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.
Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids can live for several years.
Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.
Gender: Males usually display bolder and brighter colors as they mature. Females usually have duller colors, and smaller bodies.
Breeding: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids are mouthbrooders.
Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.
Popularity: Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids have been very popular aquarium fish.
Names: Their scientific name for Cherry Spot Tropheus is Tropheus moorii cf. "Bulu Point".
Variations: There are many different Tropheus varieties that may or may not to be the same species.
Click here to read a very interesting article about Tropheus species.
Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Cherry Spot Tropheus Cichlids, including a picture gallery.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
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