Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps (Pseudotropheus aurora)

Meet this Lake Malawi cichlid

The Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps (Pseudotropheus aurora) is a freshwater cichlid of the family Cichlidae from Lake Malawi in Africa. FishBase records a maximum of 8.7 cm standard length and places it around Likoma Island and parts of the Mozambican coast of the lake. It is best suited to a deliberately planned Malawi aquarium whose keeper can manage hard, alkaline water, strong filtration and aggression within the community.

FishBase now lists it as Maylandia aurora. Its biology is closely tied to the meeting point between rocks and sand: it is particularly common along the rock–sand interface and occasionally occurs in purely rocky habitats close to sand. It is most numerous between 2 and 5 metres deep, although the recorded depth range extends from 2 to 12 metres. A Wikipedia summary of the species also emphasises the southern part of Likoma Island and rocky substrates close to sand.

Wild social behaviour helps explain why aquarium layout and stocking require care. Males usually hold territories over the upper surfaces of medium and large rocks, while a small proportion occupy less prominent sites and some defend areas at the base of rocks. Females, juveniles and non-territorial adult males occur singly or in groups of up to 30. This wild observation is not a stocking formula, but it shows why rock placement, territorial boundaries and the distribution of fish through the aquarium matter.

The adult planning figure is 8.7 cm standard length. Standard length excludes the tail, so leave room for the complete fish as well as swimming space and territorial movement. Plan the aquarium around that recorded adult figure rather than the centimetres shown beside a purchase choice.

Decide whether the setup fits

Choose this cichlid for a mature Lake Malawi community rather than a peaceful mixed tropical aquarium. OATA describes Malawi cichlids as colourful, aggressive fish with specialised water requirements. It also says that, apart from their aggression and the need to mix them with caution, they are usually undemanding aquarium inhabitants. Because those water requirements are specialised and the group is aggressive, we rate this fish intermediate. Routine care is straightforward, but the water chemistry and aggression plan must be in place before the fish arrives.

A community plan should connect four decisions: adult size, water chemistry, filtration capacity and temperament. Meeting only the temperature range is not enough if the aquarium is soft and acidic, while a large tank still needs a mature biological filter. Likewise, suitable water does not remove the need to watch territorial behaviour.

Browse the African cichlid collection to compare identities and care requirements, but assess every proposed combination before purchase. Sharing Lake Malawi does not make every individual or every stocking ratio automatically compatible.

Choose the dispatch size and understand the offer

One purchase supplies one fish. Use the live size selector to see the 4 - 5 cm and 6 - 7 cm choices before selecting one. The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. Both labels describe dispatch length, while the adult planning figure remains 8.7 cm standard length.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps listing has no sex-guaranteed option. Do not use colour, markings, body size or a gallery scene to plan a male-to-female ratio. OATA notes that many Malawi cichlids show sexual differences only as adults and not as juveniles, which makes an explicit option label the only customer guarantee.

The gallery images are representative, based on reference photographs of this species, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal. The images illustrate the listed identity and typical aquarium scenes; they do not identify the sex or exact appearance of the fish supplied.

Decide between the two dispatch sizes according to the established community, not by treating the larger choice as an adult fish. Whichever label you select, allow from the outset for the recorded adult length, the Malawi community volume, the group’s aggression and the filtration required for the complete stocking plan.

Keep water inside the supported overlap

Keep this cichlid at 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18°dH. These routine aquarium values are the overlap between FishBase’s species-level environmental range and OATA’s group guidance for African Malawi cichlids. FishBase records 24–26°C, pH 7.5–8.5 and 12–30°dH; OATA gives 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18°dH. The narrower overlap keeps every routine target inside both ranges.

Use measurable targets

• Temperature: maintain 24–26°C and check it with a thermometer.
• pH: maintain 8.0–8.5 and avoid abrupt movement within the range.
• General hardness: maintain 12–18°dH.
• Carbonate hardness: OATA gives 10–15°dKH for Malawi cichlids.
• Ammonia and nitrite: keep both at zero mg per litre.
• Nitrate: do not let it exceed 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level.

Test the source water as well as the aquarium. A pH result alone cannot show whether general hardness and carbonate hardness fit the plan. Use our water chemistry guide to understand each measurement, then compare the actual results with the target through the water matcher.

For example, water at 25°C, pH 8.2 and 15°dH sits inside the complete routine range. Water at 25°C and pH 8.2 but only 6°dH does not: temperature and pH are suitable, but hardness still requires attention. Make decisions from the whole set of readings rather than a single favourable number.

Build around rocks, sand and community space

Use an aquarium of at least 200 litres for a reasonable-sized Malawi community. OATA gives that figure as broad guidance for the group and recommends buying as large an aquarium as is reasonable. A larger water volume makes temperature and water quality more stable, but volume does not replace filtration, testing or a compatible stocking plan.

The fish sold here reaches 8.7 cm standard length, so plan the aquarium for adult fish and the complete community rather than for the dispatch grade supplied.

Shape the environment around recorded behaviour

• Rock and sand: create a rock–sand setting that reflects the species’ Lake Malawi habitat.
• Territory distribution: spread substantial rocks through the aquarium rather than concentrating every prominent surface in one corner.
• Substrate: use coral sand or a similar substrate; OATA says the tank should have this type of material to buffer the water.
• Plants: expect digging and rearrangement of the substrate to uproot plants. If plants are used, choose only the hardiest types that can withstand that disturbance.
• Accessible maintenance: leave enough access to siphon solid waste and inspect the filter without dismantling the complete layout.

Rock placement has two jobs. It represents the species’ natural association with rocky surfaces close to sand, and it divides prominent surfaces that territorial fish may claim. Avoid building an unstable stack: OATA notes that Malawi cichlids dig and rearrange substrate, so every heavy object must remain secure when material beneath it moves.

Review the layout when aggression becomes focused. OATA says rearranging the aquarium décor can help to reduce aggression as fish find new territories. Make that change deliberately, then watch whether chasing and hiding become more evenly distributed rather than assuming a new arrangement has solved the problem immediately.

Mature and size the filter before adding fish

Run a well-established biological filter before this fish enters the aquarium. The RSPCA explains that a working biological filter supports beneficial bacteria that convert toxic ammonia into nitrite and then into safer nitrate. OATA requires zero mg per litre ammonia and zero mg per litre nitrite for Malawi cichlids.

Malawi communities place a substantial demand on filtration because the stocking method used to distribute aggression also increases total waste and oxygen demand. OATA recommends an oversized filter and aggressive aeration for these communities. Choose filter capacity for the intended adult population, feeding load and aquarium volume rather than for the single fish being added today.

Confirm readiness before introduction

1. Prepare and mature the complete aquarium, using the first tropical tank guide as a setup sequence.
2. Measure ammonia and nitrite and proceed only when both are zero mg per litre.
3. Check that temperature, pH and hardness all fall inside the stated routine range.
4. Confirm that water movement and aeration cover the aquarium without leaving stagnant areas around the rockwork.
5. Inspect the filter for blockages and make sure its flow is normal before adding to the biological load.

Add fish gradually. OATA explains that the population of beneficial bacteria must increase when more fish are added and feeding rises. Adding too many fish too quickly can cause new tank syndrome because the existing bacteria cannot process the increased waste, allowing ammonia and nitrite to reach harmful levels.

A worked decision is simple: if ammonia or nitrite is measurable, postpone the addition and restore zero readings. If both are zero but pH is 7.2, the filter may be processing waste but the aquarium still misses the Malawi water target. If all chemistry values fit but the filter flow has fallen, clear the blockage before adding another fish. Readiness depends on all three checks: biological processing, water chemistry and circulation.

Feed small portions twice daily

Feed only what the fish can eat within a few minutes, twice a day. OATA gives that schedule for Malawi cichlids and warns that excess food breaks down into toxic waste. Judge the portion by what disappears promptly, not by a fixed pinch that may be too large for the fish and community in front of you.

Offer a specialised Malawi cichlid food with a high algae content together with fresh vegetables. OATA describes the smaller mbuna species as more herbivorous and says they will appreciate both foods. This species’ rock-associated habitat fits OATA’s description of mbuna as rock-dwelling species, but the feeding decision should still be checked against body condition, feeding response and water quality.

Use the aquarium response to set the portion

• Food remains after a few minutes: remove what you can and reduce the next portion.
• Ammonia or nitrite appears: stop increasing the feeding load and address water quality immediately.
• Nitrate rises faster between changes: review both portion size and the total community load.
• A fish loses interest in food: test the water and compare its behaviour, breathing and appearance with normal.
• One fish takes most of the food: distribute small amounts so feeding can be observed across the community without increasing the total excessively.

Variety means rotating appropriate Malawi foods and fresh vegetables, not turning every meal into a larger meal. Keep the twice-daily frequency attached to portions consumed within a few minutes. More food does not compensate for competition if it leaves waste behind; it increases the burden on the biological filter and can make a crowded community harder to keep stable.

Record unusual refusals alongside water-test results. A single observation may be temporary, but reduced intake combined with rapid breathing, hiding or a colour change gives you a stronger reason to investigate promptly.

Follow the arrival and acclimatisation sequence

Arrange for someone to receive the parcel and inspect it on the day it arrives. The Tropical Fish Co delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy sets out the following sequence.

1. Start filming before the parcel is opened, showing the parcel still sealed and the outer box visible.
2. Open the parcel in one continuous take and show the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed.
3. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
4. Release the fish without pouring the bag water into the aquarium.
5. If anything has gone wrong, contact us the same day with the order number and the continuous unboxing video showing the sealed parcel, its opening and the fish still in the bag.

Prepare the receiving aquarium before the parcel arrives. OATA’s introduction advice is to confirm that ammonia and nitrite are zero and that the aquarium is an appropriate size for the intended Malawi population. Check temperature, pH and hardness as part of that readiness decision rather than trying to correct major chemistry differences while the fish is waiting.

Use a first-week checkpoint

• On release: observe swimming and breathing without treating a single brief movement as a settled behavioural pattern.
• At the first feeds: offer only a small portion and check whether the fish participates.
• Every day: look for persistent hiding, concentrated chasing, damaged fins, colour change or unusual position in the aquarium.
• During the week: test ammonia and nitrite after the biological load increases and keep both at zero mg per litre.
• Before another addition: confirm that filtration and behaviour have stabilised rather than filling the community rapidly.

OATA recommends adding Malawi cichlids in groups to reduce the chance of one fish receiving unnecessary aggression as individuals settle. That advice must be balanced with the need to increase the biological load slowly. Plan the intended addition in advance, mature enough filtration capacity for it, and test after feeding begins.

Maintain the water and filter every week

At least once every week, carry out a partial water change of 25%. Use a siphon to remove solid waste from the substrate, especially where debris gathers around rocks. Treat replacement tap water with conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine before adding it to the aquarium.

Test the water at least once per week. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero mg per litre, and keep nitrate from exceeding 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level. Weekly testing creates a comparison point: a result that is still inside the limit but rising steadily can prompt a review before it becomes a larger problem.

Keep beneficial bacteria in the filter

• Check the filter for blockages and changes in flow.
• If cleaning is needed, lightly rinse the media in aquarium water removed during the partial water change.
• Do not run the filter media under the tap.
• Return the filter to operation promptly and confirm that circulation and aeration have resumed.

Chlorine or chloramine can kill the beneficial bacterial population established in filter media. Using removed aquarium water reduces bacterial loss while allowing loose waste to be cleared. Do not try to make mature biological media look unused; the goal is to restore flow without stripping away the organisms that process fish waste.

Review the whole system regularly

Compare the current temperature, pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate results with earlier readings. Inspect where waste collects, whether plants have been uprooted, whether fish have moved substrate beneath rocks and whether any territory now concentrates aggression on one individual. Check that the aquarium still supports the intended adult population rather than only its present dispatch sizes.

If nitrate rises faster than before, trace the likely load through feeding, accumulated solid waste, filter flow and population changes. If pH or hardness moves away from the target, test the source water and review the buffering substrate rather than changing several factors blindly. One measured adjustment followed by another test is easier to assess than multiple simultaneous changes.

Act on changes in behaviour or condition early

Learn the fish’s normal swimming, feeding, colour, breathing and use of the aquarium. OATA recommends watching for changes because a difference from the normal pattern can reveal a developing welfare problem before it becomes severe.

Water testing is the first practical check because even small amounts of ammonia can stress Malawi cichlids. A zero ammonia result does not end the assessment: check nitrite, nitrate, temperature, pH, hardness, filter flow, aeration and interactions within the community.

Aggression and poor water quality can produce overlapping signs such as hiding, colour change or reduced feeding. Observe where and when the change occurs. A fish that emerges until one particular individual approaches presents a different decision from several fish gathering at the surface while breathing rapidly.

If the fish remains abnormal after the immediate environmental checks, or if visible damage or growths develop, contact us for further guidance. Record the water values and the sequence of changes so the advice can start from concrete observations.

Screen every proposed companion

Keep this fish only with other Malawi cichlids or with some species of Synodontis catfish that naturally inhabit Lake Malawi. OATA gives that compatibility boundary for Malawi cichlids and describes the group as aggressive, so neither category is an automatic match.

Apply the screening rule in order

1. Identity: confirm that a proposed cichlid is from the Malawi group, or that a proposed Synodontis is one of the species naturally inhabiting Lake Malawi.
2. Water: confirm that its routine requirements fit 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18°dH.
3. Adult plan: calculate the aquarium around adult fish and the complete population, not the dispatch lengths being bought.
4. Temperament: assess how aggression will be distributed and whether the layout can be rearranged if one territory dominates.
5. Filtration: make sure the mature biological filter and aeration can support the intended load.
6. Introduction: plan additions so no single fish receives concentrated aggression while the biological load still rises safely.

Avoid fish outside those two OATA categories. This excludes using shared temperature or body size alone to justify a general tropical community. A fish can tolerate 25°C and still fall outside the Lake Malawi compatibility rule, require different chemistry or respond poorly to an aggressive cichlid community.

Within the permitted categories, the result remains conditional. OATA says Malawi cichlids should be mixed with caution, recommends adding more peaceful species first and more aggressive species later, and suggests rearranging décor when territories need to be reset. Those actions reduce foreseeable pressure but do not guarantee that particular individuals will coexist.

Before buying, check every proposed combination against the aquarium volume, dimensions, current fish, adult identities, water results and filtration details. A list of names without those details cannot show whether there is sufficient space, biological capacity or a workable introduction order.

Manage aggression as a complete system

Treat aggression as a community-level management issue rather than a trait that disappears when one suitable companion is chosen. OATA describes all Malawi cichlids as aggressive and says small groups will often fight. It says they can be kept in groups of at least 15 and slightly overcrowded to limit aggression, and that a slight overstocking is required to spread aggression evenly through the population, so size the aquarium and filtration for that stocking before you buy.

Plan that slightly overstocked group within what the aquarium, filter and aeration can support, rather than keeping a small group that OATA says will often fight. OATA also recommends an aquarium of at least 200 litres for a reasonable-sized community, an oversized filter and aggressive aeration. Work out those requirements together before using population density to distribute aggression.

Respond to what you observe

• One fish receives repeated chasing: identify the aggressor and defended area, then assess whether décor can be rearranged to break up established territories.
• Several fish hide more than normal: test the water and observe interactions before deciding whether the cause is social, environmental or both.
• Fins or scales become damaged: act promptly rather than waiting for the hierarchy to settle unaided.
• A new addition becomes the sole target: review the introduction plan; OATA recommends group additions to avoid concentrating aggression on one individual.
• Ammonia or nitrite rises after adding fish: stop further additions and restore both readings to zero.

Where possible, OATA recommends more females than males of each species to prevent males harassing one individual female. Apply that only when sex is explicitly known. This offer carries no sex guarantee, and juvenile colour or size should not be used to construct a promised ratio.

Review the community after each addition and again as fish grow. Dispatch lengths change, territories develop and the biological load rises. The permanent plan remains based on adult size, measured water, filter capacity and observed behaviour.

Answer common keeper questions

How big does Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps get?

It reaches 8.7 cm standard length according to FishBase. Standard length excludes the tail, so plan swimming space and the community around the complete adult fish rather than its dispatch length.

What size aquarium does Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps need?

Use at least 200 litres for a reasonable-sized Malawi community. OATA gives this as group guidance and recommends choosing as large an aquarium as is reasonable because larger volumes provide more stable temperature and water quality.

How many Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps should I keep together?

OATA says Malawi cichlids can be kept in groups of at least 15 and that small groups will often fight. This is a community method, not a species-only quota; the aquarium, filtration, aeration and compatibility assessment must support the whole group.

Is Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps suitable for beginners?

OATA describes Malawi cichlids as usually undemanding apart from their aggression, but they need specialised hard, alkaline water, so we rate this fish intermediate. It is best for a keeper prepared to maintain 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18°dH, mature strong filtration and manage an aggressive Malawi community.

What does Pseudotropheus Pengoldi, Ps eat?

Feed a specialised Malawi cichlid food with a high algae content and include fresh vegetables. OATA advises feeding only what can be eaten within a few minutes, twice a day.

What temperature and pH does this fish need?

Keep it at 24–26°C and pH 8.0–8.5, with general hardness of 12–18°dH. This is the overlap between FishBase’s species-level environmental range and OATA’s Malawi cichlid guidance.

Is this fish aggressive or likely to nip fins?

Treat it as aggressive and inspect fins, scales, hiding and chasing during routine observation. OATA describes Malawi cichlids as aggressive and recommends cautious mixing, planned group introductions and décor rearrangement when territories concentrate aggression.

Which animals can it live with?

Keep it only with other Malawi cichlids or some Synodontis catfish species that naturally inhabit Lake Malawi, after screening water requirements, temperament, adult space and filtration. OATA does not present either category as a universal match.

How is this fish transported to my address in the UK?

The Tropical Fish Co policy says fish are hand-bagged in pure oxygen, placed in an insulated box with a heat pack when weather calls for it, and carried by a licensed live-animal courier. Someone must receive the parcel and film a continuous unboxing video from the sealed parcel to the fish still in its bag; then float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.

Consult the public references

• FishBase: scientific identity, family, Lake Malawi distribution, environmental range, maximum recorded length and wild habitat and social observations for Maylandia aurora.
• Wikipedia: concise natural-history summary covering Lake Malawi identity, Likoma Island habitat and recorded male and female lengths.
• OATA: UK trade-body guidance for African Malawi cichlid water, aquarium planning, filtration, feeding, maintenance, behaviour, group management and compatibility.
• RSPCA: general aquarium welfare guidance explaining biological filtration and the processing of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
• Tropical Fish Co delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy: packing, receipt, unboxing evidence and acclimatisation procedure.