Tropheus brichardi mpimbwe - Cichlid Fish for Sale UK

Diet comes first with this fish. The Mpimbwe form of Tropheus brichardi is recorded as a herbivore, and that single word should shape your feeding regime before the fish ever arrives: vegetable-based fare, not rich meaty foods. It is the foundation that every successful Tropheus aquarium is built on, and skipping it is the classic mistake the genus does not forgive.

Mpimbwe is a locality form of Tropheus brichardi from Lake Tanganyika, and its care rating — difficult — is an honest one. The temperament on record is semi-aggressive with a tendency to turn territorial, so this is a cichlid for keepers who already understand how assertive Tanganyikans behave. Water must be hard, alkaline and unwavering: 24 to 27 °C, pH between 7.5 and 8.5, and hardness anywhere from 12 to 30 dGH. The minimum aquarium on record is 300 litres, and with a listed lifespan of ten years, the commitment is measured in years of steady upkeep rather than a season of novelty.

Aquascape for its character as well as its swimming: it occupies the middle region, and a tank with real structure means no single fish can dominate every sight line. What do you get for meeting those demands? A boldly behaving Lake Tanganyika cichlid with genuine character. The Mpimbwe name marks a specific collection locality, and locality forms like this are valued precisely because they are kept distinct — a good reason to plan its aquarium deliberately rather than mixing first and researching afterwards.

Mpimbwe essentials

• Care level: difficult — for experienced cichlid keepers
• Semi-aggressive; can become territorial
• Herbivore: vegetable-led feeding only
• 300 litres minimum; 24–27 °C, pH 7.5–8.5, hardness 12–30 dGH
• Lifespan around 10 years; middle-region swimmer

Before you add it to the basket

Choose tankmates from other robust Lake Tanganyika cichlids of similar size and temperament, Synodontis catfish, or — only in very large tanks — non-aggressive Tanganyikan shell dwellers. Small peaceful fish, slow movers, fin-nipping species, anything aggressive and larger than it, and soft-water community fish all belong on the avoid list. Delivery is handled by a licensed live-animal courier, with our live arrival guarantee as standard.