Firecracker Tropheus

The red firecracker tropheus moorii, or tropheus chipimbi, will begin showing color at two inches, though shipping size is normally just around an inch, so please be patient. This fish is territorial but peaceful enough to keep with a community cichlid tank. Slow to grow but hardy, keep the water clean and make sure it has flake food that contains veggies.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Use a sand bottom and plenty of rockwork that grows algae for grazing. Strong filtration and very clean water are essential. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.

Feeding: Tropheus are strict plant eaters. Feed a vegetable-based flake or pellet in small amounts, and avoid rich, meaty foods, which can make them very sick.

Tankmates: Keep Tropheus in a group of a single variety, with one or a few males. Avoid mixing different Tropheus varieties, which will crossbreed and fight. Peaceful Tanganyikans like cyprichromis or synodontis can share the tank.

Good to know: Add Tropheus all at once as a group; adding single fish later often leads to fighting.