Tropheus Bemba Cichlid (5 CM)
£32.50
Please note, due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided.
The Tropheus Bemba cichlid (Tropheus sp. black “Bemba”) is a vibrant, aggressive herbivorous freshwater fish endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
4 in stock
Description
Quick Facts & Overview
- Origin: Bemba region along the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) coast of Lake Tanganyika.
- Appearance: Deep black body marked by a distinct, vivid orange-to-red broad band or bar across the middle of the flank.
- Size: Grows up to 10–12 cm (approx. 4–4.5 inches).
- Lifespan: Around 8 years with proper care.
- Temperament: Highly territorial, active, and hierarchical.
Aquarium & Habitat Requirements
- Tank Size: Minimum of 500 to 800 liters (130–210 gallons) with a length of at least 150 cm to accommodate their territorial boundaries and social structure.
- Water Parameters: Temperature between 23–27°C (73–81°F), hard alkaline water with a pH of 7.8–9.0, and general hardness (GH/DH) of 15–25.
- Setup: Dense rock piles creating caves and visual barriers, paired with fine sand substrate. Plants are generally not recommended as they may be dug up or eaten.
- Social Structure: Must be kept in large groups of 15 to 25 individuals added simultaneously to disperse aggression, maintaining a ratio of 3 to 4 females per male.
Diet & Feeding
- Diet Type: Strict herbivore. In nature, they graze on algae covering rocks.
- Feeding Care: High-fibre spirulina flakes, granules, and specialized vegetable-based cichlid foods. Avoid high-protein or rich meaty diets, which easily trigger a fatal digestive condition known as “Tropheus bloat”.
Breeding
- Behavior: Maternal mouthbrooder; females carry eggs and even feed while protecting free-swimming fry.
- Spawning Ratio:
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