Above: In this picture a young Premium Spotted Tropheus Duboisi Cichlid is swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: These fish have dark bodies with bright white spots, when they're young. Later as adults their pattern changes.

Origin: The ancestors of Duboisi lived in Lake Tanganyika. But now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, they can grow to be about 5" long, including their tails, which is a nice size for aquariums with 60-gallons of water and more. Females tend to remain a little smaller.

Behaviors: Duboisi Cichlids are usually quite aggressive fish, and can be more aggressive than some Malawi Mbunas.

But they usually do not do well with Mbunas, unless the Mbunas are much smaller.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include the Malawi Peacocks, other fish from Lake Tanganyika, and Synodontis Catfish.

Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Spotted Duboisi 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 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 food pellets.

Water Conditions: Lake Tanganyika has very alkaline and very hard water.

Most of North America has moderately hard and alkaline water, which these fish can usually adapt to, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the hardness or alkalinity.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Duboisi 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. One or several Duboisi can live well, but a few will not, because the dominant Duboisi will the other miserable.

Decor: Duboisi don't 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 Duboisi do not have live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Duboisi.

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: Duboisi 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: Spotted Duboisi Cichlids are mouthbrooders.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: The Duboisi is a rather popular aquarium fish.

Names: The scientific name for the Spotted Duboisi Cichlid is Tropheus duboisi.

Variations: Like most of the species in Lake Tanganyika there are several color variations of Duboisi.

Click here to read a very interesting article about Tropheus species.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Duboisi, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 02/09/2015