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Freshwater fishTaiwan Reef Cichlid
Taiwan Reef Cichlid
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Rainbow colors, primarily blue, make this a sought-after addition to most cichlid tanks. The Taiwan Reef is an herbivore, so make sure food has some spirulina and other veggies. Even at two inches, these cichlids have beautiful color and are peaceful additions to a community cichlid tank.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Protomelas steveni "Taiwan Reef" |
| Origin | Taiwanee Reef, Lake Malawi, Africa (not Taiwan) |
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive (males territorial) |
| Adult Size | Up to 5–6" |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (meaty foods) |
| Water Temperature | 76–82°F |
| pH | 7.8–8.6 |
| Shipping Size | Medium: approx. 2" · Large: approx. 3" · Jumbo: approx. 4–5" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Give them a sand bottom, open swimming space in front and rockwork along the back. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.
Feeding: Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Haps do well with peacocks and other haps of similar size, plus robust catfish like synodontis. Keep one male per similar-looking species, with several females, to limit fighting and crossbreeding.
Good to know: Males take a year or more to show full adult color, and color best when females are present.
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