Difficult
Protopterus annectens
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
£62.99
A striking orange Lake Malawi cichlid that brings bold color and active behavior to a large, hard-water aquarium. Difficult care, semi-aggressive. 25-28C, pH 7.5-8.5.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Petrotilapia tridentiger
Orange Petrotilapia are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
A striking orange Lake Malawi cichlid that brings bold color and active behavior to a large, hard-water aquarium. Difficult care, semi-aggressive. 25-28C, pH 7.5-8.5.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Bold orange colour sets the Orange Petrotilapia (Petrotilapia tridentiger orange) apart in a Lake Malawi display. This is the orange form of a large, active mbuna - reaching around 15cm - and it brings warm colour and constant movement to the upper rocks of a big African aquarium.
Make no mistake about the commitment involved: this is a difficult-level fish that wants a genuinely large tank. Our care notes call for a minimum of 400 litres, reflecting both its adult size and its energetic, territorial nature. It is a herbivore and algivore, so its menu should be plant- and algae-based rather than meaty.
Living in the middle region above scattered rockwork, it is semi-aggressive and can become territorial. In a spacious, heavily rock-scattered layout it has the room to establish itself while still letting suitable tank mates hold their own.
This is a fish that demands real room to be kept well. The 400-litre minimum is there to absorb its size and its energetic, territorial nature, ideally in a heavily rock-scattered layout that gives it structure to defend and tank mates somewhere to retreat. Keep the water between 25 and 28°C, the pH from 7.5 to 8.5 and hardness across 10 to 30 dGH for the hard, alkaline conditions it needs.
As a herbivore and algivore its diet should be firmly vegetable-based, mirroring the grazing it does in nature; rich, meaty feeds are best left out. With the right space, water and menu, it can reach around eight years of age while bringing constant orange-toned movement to the middle of a large mbuna community.
Good companions are other Lake Malawi cichlids of similar size and temperament, robust Synodontis catfish, and other similarly sized Malawi mbuna in a large, heavily rock-scattered aquarium. Avoid small fish that can be bullied or eaten, peaceful community fish, slow-moving long-finned fish, highly aggressive cichlids that will outcompete it, and soft-water species. We dispatch each order using a licensed live-animal courier, backed by our live arrival guarantee.
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