Difficult
Tropheus moori Caramba
24–28°C · pH 8–9 · 300L
£51.99
One quantity buys one unsexed Kiriza Tropheus in the selected size. This specialist Lake Tanganyika locality form is best planned as a group of 15 or more in a 150 cm, approximately 500 litre aquarium with hard alkaline water, mature filtration, high oxygenation, secure rockwork and a vegetable-led diet.
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.
Tropheus sp. 'black'
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
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One quantity buys one unsexed Kiriza Tropheus in the selected size. This specialist Lake Tanganyika locality form is best planned as a group of 15 or more in a 150 cm, approximately 500 litre aquarium with hard alkaline water, mature filtration, high oxygenation, secure rockwork and a vegetable-led diet.
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.
24–28°C · pH 8–9 · 300L
24–28°C · pH 8–9 · 300L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 1000L
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
One quantity buys one live, unsexed Kiriza Blunthead Cichlid in the size selected above. This black-and-yellow Lake Tanganyika cichlid is sold in the aquarium trade as Tropheus moorii “Kiriza”. Specialist and phylogeographic sources place the northern Kiriza population more cautiously in the still-unresolved Tropheus sp. “black” lineage, so both names are explained here rather than treated as different fish.
Kiriza Tropheus are specialist colony fish for experienced cichlid keepers. They need a long, high-volume aquarium, hard alkaline water, strong oxygenation, mature filtration, secure rockwork and a carefully planned group. They are not suitable as a pair, a casual mixed African-cichlid purchase or an addition to an established Tropheus group without a full introduction plan.
| Sale unit | One live Kiriza Tropheus per quantity |
|---|---|
| Sex | Unsexed; sex, a pair and a particular male-to-female ratio are not guaranteed |
| Dispatch size | The live size option selected above; availability can differ between variants |
| Trade identity | Supplied as Tropheus moorii “Kiriza”; scientifically discussed as Tropheus sp. “black” Kiriza |
| Image note | The gallery contains representative aquarium views, not photographs of the exact fish dispatched |
The size options are dispatch-size bands, not promises about final length or sex. Typical adult size for the Kiriza form is about 12–14 cm total length, but natural variation, age and husbandry affect an individual fish. Check the selected option in the live buy box before ordering because price and stock belong to the live variant controls, not permanent description text.
Kiriza is a locality and aquarium-trade name associated with the north-western Lake Tanganyika coast around the Ubwari Peninsula in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Kaiser II” is another hobby name for the same black-bodied, yellow-banded Kiriza form. The locality label describes the recognised line; it does not prove that an individual fish is wild-caught, and this listing makes no wild-origin claim.
The distinction matters because many Tropheus locality forms have historically been sold as Tropheus moorii. A peer-reviewed Tropheus phylogeography study explains that several Lake Tanganyika populations cannot be assigned unequivocally to named species and groups Kiriza with northern dark-bodied, conspicuously banded forms. Ad Konings’ Tropheus field and aquarium account similarly separates northern Tropheus sp. “black” from true southern T. moorii. We retain the supplier’s established trade name while using the more cautious lineage name for scientific accuracy.
Adult Kiriza are known for a dark to jet-black body crossed by a broad yellow band. Band width, intensity and edge shape vary, and stress or lighting can temporarily alter the way the colours appear. Juveniles can look less settled than mature fish, so no exact shade, band shape or adult finish is guaranteed from a young dispatch-size specimen.
The gallery contains representative views designed to show the recognised black body, yellow band and Tropheus shape. They are not photographs of the exact fish dispatched. Aquarium plants and wood shown in some scenes are presentation settings rather than evidence of the natural habitat or a complete setup recommendation.
Do not plan around a single fish or a simple pair. Tropheus direct much of their aggression toward their own kind, and a dominant fish can repeatedly pursue subordinates when the group or aquarium is too small. Specialist guidance commonly treats ten as a lower experienced-keeper floor and approximately 15–25 as the stronger colony plan. Tropical Fish Co therefore recommends 15 or more as the preferred starting plan, provided the aquarium footprint, filtration and keeper experience support the group.
Sexing juveniles is difficult, and online livestock is not sold as a guaranteed ratio. Start the planned group together while the fish are young, watch for one fish being excluded from food or shelter, and keep a properly cycled separation aquarium available. Adding one newcomer to an established territorial colony can provoke severe chasing; rearranging rock alone does not guarantee acceptance.
For Kiriza, the exact-form specialist reference recommends at least a 150 cm-long aquarium of around 500 litres. Length and usable rock face matter as much as the headline volume: a tall narrow aquarium does not provide the same number of feeding surfaces, sight breaks or escape routes. The final stocking plan must also allow for adult body size, waste production and any carefully selected companions.
Build stable rock structures over a protected base so burrowing or cleaning cannot undermine them. Create several broken lines of sight, narrow retreats for subordinates and open water for the group to move between rock zones. The natural habitat is shallow, oxygen-rich rocky littoral rather than a planted community scene. Plants are optional; if used, they should not replace secure rockwork, circulation or swimming room.
Use strong, mature biological filtration and broad surface movement. Position outlets or circulation pumps so oxygenation is high without trapping weaker fish against a constant jet. Cover intakes where necessary, keep rock piles away from pressure points on the glass, and make sure the aquascape can be inspected for trapped waste.
| Factor | Working recommendation | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–27°C | Keep stable and maintain strong oxygenation, especially toward the warm end |
| pH | Approximately 7.8–9.0 | Hard alkaline Lake Tanganyika conditions; avoid abrupt chemical correction |
| Hardness | Hard, well-buffered water | Test GH and KH and match the acclimated stock rather than chasing an unsupported universal number |
| Filtration | Mature biological filter with high circulation | Large groups produce substantial waste and need dependable gas exchange |
| Nitrogen waste | Ammonia and nitrite at zero | Do not add the colony to an immature aquarium |
Stability is more important than repeatedly dosing toward an exact decimal. Test the source aquarium and replacement water before the fish arrive, make regular partial water changes, and avoid a large sudden shift in temperature, pH or mineral content. Rising nitrate, reduced surface movement, rapid breathing or fish holding away from the group calls for an immediate water-quality and equipment check.
Tropheus are specialised algae browsers. In Lake Tanganyika they crop algal growth and associated material from rock, so the aquarium diet should be vegetable-led. Use a reputable Spirulina-rich flake or appropriately sized herbivore cichlid food as the controlled staple. Natural algae on well-lit rock can add grazing activity, but it rarely supplies the complete diet of a stocked colony.
Feed modest portions that the group can finish and observe whether subordinates get access. Avoid sudden diet changes, overfeeding and routine rich, soft or meat-heavy foods. Some specialist sources use small amounts of suitable planktonic crustaceans, but these are not the staple and are best left to experienced Tropheus keepers who understand the product and the condition of their group. Remove persistent leftovers before they affect water quality.
Kiriza is territorial and can be one of the more forceful Tropheus forms. A species-only Kiriza aquarium is often the clearest plan because feeding, aggression and breeding-line management can all be controlled around one locality group. Keeping different geographic Tropheus forms together is discouraged: they may hybridise, and the resulting offspring can no longer be represented honestly as a pure locality line.
Experienced keepers sometimes combine Tropheus with selected Lake Tanganyika fish that share hard-water, oxygen and dietary conditions. That is not a universal compatibility promise. Avoid slow, timid or long-finned fish, predators, incompatible soft-water species, and animals that require regular rich meaty feeding. Compare adult behaviour and diet before using any general “African cichlid” label as a compatibility rule.
Sexual colour differences are not pronounced, and young fish cannot be sexed reliably from a listing photograph. Mature females are often somewhat smaller, but body size alone is not a guarantee. This product therefore does not promise a male, female, pair or breeding-ready group.
Kiriza Tropheus are maternal mouthbrooders: the female carries the developing eggs and fry. Breeding success depends on a settled group, correct diet, water stability and enough refuge from the dominant male. Small broods are normal for Tropheus, but no spawning age, brood size or outcome is guaranteed for livestock sold unsexed.
Set up and fully cycle the final colony aquarium before ordering. On arrival, keep the room calm, follow the current acclimation instructions and avoid feeding a heavy meal immediately. During the first week, check breathing, posture, colour recovery, faeces, feeding access and whether any fish is being pinned behind equipment or excluded from the rockwork.
Contact Tropical Fish Co promptly if a fish arrives in concern, and do not make several large water, diet and aquascape changes at once unless an immediate welfare emergency requires it. For an established group, quarantine and reintroduction planning are especially important because adding a recovered fish back into fixed territories can restart aggression.
To compare other Tropheus forms, see the Caramba Tropheus, Moliro Orange Firecracker Tropheus and Orange I Bemba Blunthead Cichlid. These are comparison links, not advice to mix locality forms. You can also browse the wider Lake Tanganyika cichlid collection and compare each fish by adult size, diet, aggression and aquarium footprint.
Live fish are packed in oxygen-filled bags inside an insulated box and sent on a tracked service with a courier licensed to carry live animals. Dispatch and the confirmed arrival date follow the current weekly schedule and postcode coverage shown on the delivery page.
The Live Arrival Guarantee is conditional. Someone must be at the delivery address, the parcel must be opened and checked on the day it arrives, and a concern must be reported the same day with the required unboxing video. Read the current delivery, postcode and Live Arrival Guarantee terms before ordering; the live policy takes priority over this summary.
