Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia zebroides) – 2–7cm & XL Sizes

Choose a territorial Lake Malawi mbuna

The Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia zebroides) is a freshwater cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It comes from Lake Malawi, where FishBase records it throughout rocky habitats around the lake and gives a maximum adult size of 9.3 cm standard length. This compact mbuna suits a keeper who wants to observe territorial, rock-associated cichlid behaviour and is prepared to manage aggression, hard alkaline water and a deliberately planned Malawi community.

Do not approach it as a peaceful general community fish. The Seriously Fish husbandry profile describes it as belligerent, territorial and especially aggressive towards others of its own species. It also calls the fish one of the hardier mbuna and a good choice for someone new to these fish. We therefore assess its care level as intermediate: routine feeding and maintenance are straightforward, but stocking decisions and territorial conflict require active management.

Its decisive planning needs are secure rockwork, open water between territories, a mature biological filter and companions chosen for a Malawi cichlid aquarium. The attractive barred mbuna form does not change those behavioural requirements.

Understand the fish and size you buy

One purchase supplies one Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid in the size selected. The live selector includes 2–3 cm, 3–4 cm, 4–5 cm, 5–6 cm, 6–7 cm and XL labels. Some labels occur more than once in the catalogue, but they still describe one animal per purchase. Use the live selector to choose the required dispatch size.

The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. Plan the completed aquarium for a fish reaching 9.3 cm rather than treating a smaller dispatch fish as suitable for a smaller permanent home. XL is a dispatch grade rather than an adult-size measurement, so it should not replace the recorded adult figure in space or stocking calculations.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid listing has no sex-guaranteed option. Seriously Fish notes that males are much more colourful than females, but colour in an image or at a small dispatch size must not be used as a sex promise. If several fish are selected for a future group, plan for their eventual behaviour without assuming that the purchase will produce a preferred ratio.

Some gallery images have been digitally enhanced to improve image quality. They show the listed type of animal rather than guaranteeing the exact markings of the individual supplied, so natural colour and pattern can vary. One gallery scene contains two visible fish, but the offer remains one animal per purchase. The images show representative body shapes, markings and aquarium scenes; they do not determine the sex or exact appearance of the fish supplied.

Check the offer before completing the plan

• Purchase unit: one live fish.
• Dispatch labels: the selected centimetre band or XL.
• Adult plan: 9.3 cm maximum standard length.
• Sex: no sex-guaranteed option.
• Gallery: representative representative scenes rather than the exact animal.

Check the decisive care numbers

Keep this mbuna at 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18 dGH. These routine values are the overlap between the species-level range in Seriously Fish and OATA’s Malawi cichlid guidance. OATA’s figures are group guidance, not a species-specific optimum, and the overlap keeps every value within both sets of advice.

Seriously Fish gives a minimum aquarium base of 100 × 30 cm and a volume of about 90 litres for this fish. Treat those as the minimum physical dimensions, not as a complete community stocking plan. OATA recommends at least 200 litres for a reasonable-sized Malawi cichlid community because a larger aquarium gives greater environmental stability and more room to manage aggression. Decide whether the aquarium is for one carefully managed fish, a species arrangement or a broader Malawi community before using either volume.

Use secure piles of rocks to form caves, leave small open-water areas between them and provide a sandy substrate. This fish digs and tends to uproot plants, so plants should not be the structure on which territories or escape routes depend. A filter is essential, and the full adult stocking plan—not the present dispatch sizes—must determine its required capacity.

Make three checks before choosing this fish

1. Confirm that the aquarium can hold 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18 dGH without repeated swings.
2. Confirm that its footprint meets at least 100 × 30 cm and that a community plan has substantially more room where needed.
3. Confirm that every proposed companion passes the Malawi, temperament and feeding checks in the compatibility section.

Browse the African cichlid collection only after writing down those limits. Sharing a retail category does not make two fish compatible.

Plan the aquarium around the adult size

Plan around an adult size of 9.3 cm standard length. FishBase records that maximum for Cynotilapia zebroides, while Seriously Fish lists 10 cm standard length in its husbandry profile. Use 9.3 cm as the consistent adult figure throughout this care plan, while allowing the aquarium footprint and territorial layout—not a centimetre difference—to drive the final stocking decision.

Provide an aquarium with a base of at least 100 × 30 cm and about 90 litres for the species-level minimum described by Seriously Fish. A filter turnover of four to five times the aquarium volume per hour is advised at that size, which equates to a filter rated around 360–450 litres per hour for a 90-litre aquarium. Ratings are a starting point: blocked media or poor circulation around rock piles will reduce effective flow.

Use at least 200 litres when planning a reasonable-sized Malawi community. OATA connects that larger volume with more stable temperature and water quality, while the extra footprint gives more scope for caves and separated rock zones. Do not reduce the planned adult aquarium because a 2–3 cm or 3–4 cm fish occupies little space on arrival. The animal will grow, the filter will receive more waste, and territorial behaviour must be accommodated throughout its life.

Match the aquarium to the intended arrangement

Prepare and mature the aquarium before adding livestock. Our first tropical aquarium guide explains the setup sequence, but the values and territorial layout on this page remain the requirements for this particular fish.

Build separate rock territories

Arrange much of the aquarium as rock piles that form caves, with small open-water areas between them. This layout follows the rocky Lake Malawi habitat recorded by FishBase and the maintenance advice from Seriously Fish. Multiple cave entrances and separated rock zones give territorial fish more than one place to occupy, while open areas preserve swimming room.

Use a sandy substrate. Expect regular digging and rearrangement around the base of the rockwork because Seriously Fish describes the species as a constant digger that tends to uproot plants. Keep the arrangement stable as the substrate moves; a cave that collapses or a rock that shifts can remove refuge and alter territorial boundaries.

Plants are optional rather than the core of the layout. If they are included, plan for uprooting and do not rely on them as permanent barriers. Rocks and caves should create the durable structure. Check the aquarium from the front and both ends: several cave openings and separated areas should be visible rather than one central shelter that every fish must contest.

Use the layout to support each behaviour

Rearranging décor can help reduce aggression when Malawi cichlids establish new territories, as OATA advises. Use that step as part of a controlled introduction rather than repeatedly disturbing an otherwise stable group. If aggression continues after the layout is changed, separate the affected fish instead of relying on further decoration changes.

Hold the water inside the shared range

Keep the aquarium at 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18 dGH. This is the overlap of Seriously Fish’s 25–29°C, pH 7.5–8.5 and 10–25 dGH range with OATA’s 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH Malawi guidance. Holding the shared range keeps the fish within both the focused husbandry profile and the UK trade-body range.

Maintain ammonia at zero mg per litre and nitrite at zero mg per litre. OATA also advises that nitrate should not exceed 20 mg per litre above the normal level in the tap water. Measure the aquarium and source water rather than judging chemistry from clarity. Clear water can still contain toxic nitrogen compounds or sit outside the required pH and hardness range.

Use results to decide what to do

Test at least weekly and whenever breathing, feeding, colour, swimming or aggression changes. The water chemistry guide explains what the main tests measure, while the water matcher helps compare measured values with this fish’s stated range.

Avoid rapid stocking increases. OATA explains that beneficial bacteria must increase as fish numbers and feeding rise; adding too much livestock too quickly can produce new tank syndrome, with ammonia and nitrite reaching harmful levels. Increase the population gradually and confirm zero ammonia and zero nitrite before each planned addition.

Maintain filtration and oxygen

Run a well-established filter at all times. The RSPCA explains that biological filtration supports beneficial bacteria that convert toxic ammonia into nitrite and then into safer nitrate. The filter must be mature before livestock is added and large enough for the waste produced by the complete adult stocking plan.

At about 90 litres, Seriously Fish recommends a turnover of four to five times the aquarium volume each hour, corresponding to a filter rating of roughly 360–450 litres per hour. OATA recommends an oversized filter and strong aeration for the more crowded conditions used in Malawi communities. Check that the surface is moving and that flow is not blocked by rockwork or accumulated debris.

Follow a repeatable weekly routine

1. Test ammonia and nitrite, which should both remain at zero mg per litre.
2. Check nitrate against the tap-water baseline and keep it within OATA’s stated limit.
3. Carry out a partial water change of 25% at least once every week.
4. Treat replacement tap water with conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine before adding it.
5. Use a siphon to remove solid waste from accessible substrate.
6. Check the filter for reduced flow or blockages.

If filter media needs cleaning, do not run it under the tap. Rinse it lightly in aquarium water removed during the partial water change. This preserves more of the established bacterial population from chlorine or chloramine exposure. Avoid cleaning every biological surface at the same time, because filtration depends on those bacteria remaining active.

Watch the fish while checking the equipment. Hanging at the surface, sitting on the bottom, erratic swimming or unusually fast or slow gill movement can accompany a water-quality or oxygen problem. Test the water and inspect filter flow before assuming the change is purely behavioural.

Feed a vegetable-rich mbuna diet

Make vegetable matter a large proportion of the diet. Seriously Fish recommends spirulina flakes and blanched spinach for this fish, supplemented with live and frozen foods. OATA likewise describes smaller mbuna as more herbivorous and recommends specialist Malawi cichlid feeds with a high algae content alongside fresh vegetables.

Feed only what the fish can eat within a few minutes, twice a day. This OATA schedule gives a clear portion test: if food remains after the feeding period or becomes trapped around rocks, reduce the next portion. Uneaten food breaks down and adds toxic waste, placing additional demand on the biological filter.

Build each meal around the stated diet

Distribute food so that more than one fish can feed during the short meal. A territorial individual may control one feeding point, so watch whether subordinate fish actually eat rather than judging the meal only by how quickly the first food disappears. The correct amount is consumed within a few minutes without leaving waste in caves or on the sand.

Review feeding whenever nitrate rises, body condition changes or interest in food falls. Reduced food intake can be an early health warning, while excess food can create a water-quality problem even when the fish continue to feed eagerly. Adjust the portion before changing the basic twice-daily schedule.

Receive and introduce the fish carefully

Prepare the aquarium before the parcel arrives. Confirm 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5, 12–18 dGH, zero ammonia and zero nitrite. Check that the filter is running, the rockwork is stable and the intended place in the Malawi stocking plan is clear. Livestock must not be left unattended at the delivery address.

Follow the arrival steps in order

1. Receive the parcel in person.
2. Start filming while the parcel is still sealed, with the outer box visible.
3. Open it in one continuous take and show the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed.
4. Open and inspect the parcel on the same day it arrives.
5. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
6. Do not pour the bag water into the aquarium.

These steps follow the Tropical Fish Co delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy. For a Live Arrival Guarantee claim, contact us the same day with the order number and continuous unboxing video showing the sealed parcel, opening and fish still inside the bag.

Manage the introduction separately

OATA advises checking zero ammonia and zero nitrite before adding fish, increasing the aquarium population slowly and adding Malawi cichlids in groups to reduce the chance of one new individual receiving concentrated aggression. More peaceful species should be introduced before more aggressive species. Rearranging décor can also help fish establish new territories.

Observe the newcomer and the established group after release. Confirm that the fish can move away from a territory, reach food and use cover. If one individual receives persistent aggression, separate it rather than waiting for the group to resolve the problem through continued fighting.

Act on changes in health or behaviour

Check every fish each day. Healthy fish should have clear, bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, no ulcerations or bumps, appropriate swimming and a good feeding response. Learn the usual behaviour of the group so that a change becomes noticeable before it develops into a more serious welfare problem.

Use each warning sign to trigger a check

Test water quality whenever any of these changes appears. Even small amounts of ammonia can stress Malawi cichlids, and nitrite must also remain at zero. Correct filtration, stocking or maintenance problems promptly rather than allowing poor water to continue while watching the symptoms.

Territorial conflict also needs a direct response. A fish that cannot leave a claimed area, reach food or rest without being chased requires separation. Rockwork can be rearranged to reset territories, but continued aggression means the social combination needs to change.

Manage the group without assuming sex

Treat this fish as belligerent and territorial. Seriously Fish describes it as very aggressive towards others of the same species and advises keeping several females per male to reduce harassment. Because this offer carries no sex guarantee, do not build a same-species plan on the assumption that smaller or less colourful fish will become females.

OATA says Malawi cichlids can be kept in groups of at least 15 and slightly overcrowded to limit aggression, while small Malawi groups often fight. That figure describes a planned Malawi community, not a direction to keep 15 Chimate Dogtooth Cichlids. Seriously Fish specifically notes that the presence of other species helps dissipate this fish’s aggression towards its own kind.

Use the right rule for each decision

Slight overstocking is a management method only when the aquarium, filter and oxygenation can support it. OATA pairs this approach with an oversized filter and aggressive aeration. Never add fish simply to raise the count while ammonia, nitrite, nitrate or breathing behaviour indicate that the system is already under strain.

Plan an alternative home or divider before introducing a territorial cichlid. Rearranged décor may reduce established territorial claims, but it cannot make every individual combination workable. Behaviour after introduction remains the final test.

Screen companions and keep the avoids firm

Avoid peace-loving species such as Peacocks or Utaka. Seriously Fish names both as fish that should not be kept with this territorial mbuna. Also avoid mixing the different colour forms covered by the same Cynotilapia husbandry profile, because they may spawn with one another and produce unwanted hybrid fry.

Other mbuna can be considered in a carefully planned Malawi aquarium. Seriously Fish says this fish can be combined with other mbuna, while OATA limits Malawi cichlid companions to other Malawi cichlids or some species of Synodontis catfish that naturally inhabit Lake Malawi. These permissions are starting points, not universal companion guarantees.

Apply the screening rule before mixing

• Confirm that every fish can live at 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18 dGH.
• Compare adult space requirements with the aquarium’s actual footprint and volume.
• Provide enough rock structure for separate territories and open routes.
• Check that the proposed stock does not include peace-loving Peacocks or Utaka.
• Avoid another colour form that may interbreed with this Cynotilapia.
• Assess any Synodontis at species level before adding it.
• Keep a practical separation plan in case an individual is targeted.

Introduce more peaceful Malawi species before more aggressive ones, and consider adding Malawi cichlids in groups rather than exposing one newcomer to the whole established hierarchy. Rearranging décor can help the fish form new territories during the introduction.

Compatibility remains conditional on aquarium size, rock layout, stocking level and individual behaviour. Observe feeding access, hiding, fin condition, swimming and changes in aggression. Separate a fish that cannot avoid conflict or maintain normal condition.

Answer common buyer questions

How big does a Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid get?

The Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid reaches 9.3 cm standard length according to FishBase. Plan its permanent aquarium around that adult figure rather than the selected dispatch size.

What size aquarium does a Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid need?

Provide at least a 100 × 30 cm base and about 90 litres under Seriously Fish guidance. OATA recommends at least 200 litres for a reasonable-sized Malawi community.

How many should I keep together?

Keep several females per male under Seriously Fish guidance, without assuming the sex of these fish. OATA says a planned Malawi community can contain at least 15 fish; that is not a same-species group instruction.

Is the Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid suitable for beginners?

The Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid is hardy and described by Seriously Fish as a good newcomer choice among mbuna, but its territorial behaviour and stocking demands support our intermediate care label.

What does it eat?

Feed twice daily with only what it eats within a few minutes. Make vegetable matter a large proportion of the diet using spirulina flakes, high-algae Malawi food and vegetables, with live or frozen food as a supplement.

What temperature and pH does it need?

Keep it at 25–27°C, pH 8.0–8.5 and 12–18 dGH. These values are the overlap between Seriously Fish and OATA guidance.

Is the Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid aggressive or likely to damage fins?

The Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid is belligerent and territorial, especially towards its own species. Watch for changed aggression, hiding or damaged fins and separate a targeted fish.

What kinds of animals can it live with?

Consider other mbuna or some Lake Malawi Synodontis species only after screening. Avoid peace-loving Peacocks, Utaka and different colour forms that may interbreed.

How does the Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid arrive alive in the UK?

Start filming the sealed parcel before opening it, continue until the fish is visible inside the sealed bag, inspect it the same day and float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing. The Tropical Fish Co policy requires the video and order number for a Live Arrival Guarantee claim.

Care references

• FishBase: Cynotilapia zebroides — scientific identity, family, Lake Malawi distribution, rocky habitat and maximum recorded length.
• Seriously Fish: Cynotilapia husbandry profile — aquarium footprint, water ranges, diet, behaviour, sex differences and compatibility.
• OATA: How to look after African Malawi cichlids — UK group care covering water, community planning, feeding, maintenance and introductions.
• RSPCA aquarium environment guidance — biological filtration and nitrogen-waste management.