−14%
Moderate
Blue Dolphin Cichlid (Haplochromis moorii)
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 450L
£6.01£6.99
A calm large Lake Malawi hap and pale white black-eye form of Cyrtocara moorii. Best for a 450L+ hard-water aquarium with open sand and peaceful tank mates.
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. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Cyrtocara Moorii white black eye
A calm large Lake Malawi hap and pale white black-eye form of Cyrtocara moorii. Best for a 450L+ hard-water aquarium with open sand and peaceful tank mates.
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. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
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
White Dolphin Cichlid (Cyrtocara moorii) is a large, calm Lake Malawi hap best planned as a feature fish for a spacious hard-water aquarium. This is the pale white black-eye trade form of the Blue Dolphin Cichlid, kept for the same deep body, steady swimming style and mature male forehead hump that give the species its dolphin-like profile.
The old listing leaned on repeated sales phrases. This version keeps the useful care facts, adds clearer tables and gives Google and customers a more natural page: species identity first, then aquarium size, water, tank mates, feeding, acclimation and the exact offer details.
Cyrtocara moorii is the Malawi Blue Dolphin Cichlid, also called the hump-head cichlid. FishBase records it from Lake Malawi, where it occurs over sandy bottoms in shallower water, and notes maternal mouthbrooding behaviour. In aquariums the species is known for a high, rounded head profile that becomes more obvious with age, especially in dominant males.
The white black-eye form should still be judged as a Blue Dolphin Cichlid, not as a small community fish. Expect a strong, deep-bodied cichlid with a broad head, steady movement and a pale body that can show darker eye contrast. Juveniles may look modest; the adult shape and presence develop slowly.
| Scientific name | Cyrtocara moorii |
|---|---|
| Common names | White Dolphin Cichlid, Blue Dolphin Cichlid, Malawi Dolphin Cichlid, Hump-head Cichlid |
| Origin | Lake Malawi, East Africa |
| Adult size | Commonly planned around 20-25 cm in aquariums |
| Minimum aquarium | 450 litres or larger for long-term care |
| Temperature | 24-28°C |
| pH and hardness | Hard, alkaline Malawi-style water; pH 7.5-8.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful for a Malawi cichlid, but large and easily stressed by aggressive tank mates |
| Diet | Quality cichlid pellets with frozen foods such as mysis, krill, brine shrimp and chopped meaty items |
Plan the aquarium around length, open swimming room and stable filtration. A sandy foreground is important because Cyrtocara moorii naturally feeds by working over sand. Keep rockwork to the sides and back so the fish has turning room, and avoid a cramped wall of stone that forces this large species into narrow gaps.
Use mature biological filtration, strong oxygenation and regular water changes. Malawi cichlids do best when the chemistry is steady rather than constantly adjusted, so choose a buffer strategy you can repeat. The white form is not delicate when settled, but poor water quality quickly shows in appetite, colour and confidence.
This is one of the calmer Malawi haps, so it belongs with similarly sized peaceful haps rather than aggressive mbuna. Good choices are robust but non-bullying Lake Malawi species that share hard, alkaline water. Synodontis catfish can also work in a correctly sized setup.
| Good matches | Use caution or avoid |
|---|---|
| Peaceful Malawi haps of similar size | Aggressive mbuna that chase constantly |
| Placidochromis, Copadichromis and calm Aulonocara types | Small tetras, rasboras or community fish |
| Suitable Synodontis catfish | Very cramped all-male displays |
| Large, calm Rift-lake aquariums | Soft-water planted community tanks |
If you keep a group, allow space for one dominant male and several females or juveniles. Crowding can make even peaceful fish defensive, so the aquarium footprint matters as much as the headline litre number.
Feed a varied but measured diet. A good cichlid pellet can be the base, supported with frozen mysis, krill, brine shrimp, chopped prawn or similar foods. Seriously Fish describes the species as a micro-predator that appreciates live and frozen foods, while still accepting dry foods; avoid relying on one rich food every day.
Because this fish becomes large, water quality and portion control are linked. Feed what is eaten cleanly, remove leftovers and use a feeding rhythm that keeps the fish full-bodied without becoming heavy.
Current size options are listed in the selector above. Choose the size that suits your existing stock: smaller juveniles settle well into grow-out groups, while larger fish need tank mates that cannot be swallowed or intimidated. Do not add this species to a new, cycling aquarium.
Your livestock order is packed for UK courier travel and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee on eligible orders. New customers can use the current first-order offer code WELCOME10 where eligible; the care standard still comes first, so only order when the aquarium is ready.
| Best for | Large Lake Malawi displays, peaceful hap groups, keepers wanting a calm show cichlid |
|---|---|
| Not ideal for | Nano tanks, mixed soft-water communities, aggressive mbuna-only aquariums |
| Main setup priority | Open sand, stable hard water, generous filtration and swimming room |
| Main behaviour risk | Bullying by rougher cichlids or stress from cramped conditions |
Yes. The trade form on this listing is treated as Cyrtocara moorii, the Malawi Blue Dolphin or Hump-head Cichlid. The white black-eye wording describes the colour form, not a different care profile.
It is usually better with calmer haps. Mbuna are often too forceful for this species, especially in smaller aquariums, and can stop it feeding confidently.
Use 450 litres or more as the long-term plan. The fish grows large, uses open water and needs room to turn without constant contact with rockwork or tank mates.
Sand is strongly recommended. The species naturally associates with sandy areas and sifts while feeding, so smooth sand is safer and more natural than sharp gravel.
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 450L
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