Moderate
Labidochromis sp. nkali
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
£18.99
Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia zebroides) is a strongly territorial, blue-barred Lake Malawi mbuna for 120cm, 250L+ hard-water aquariums. One unsexed fish per quantity unless an option states otherwise.
Cynotilapia zebroides
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia zebroides) is a strongly territorial, blue-barred Lake Malawi mbuna for 120cm, 250L+ hard-water aquariums. One unsexed fish per quantity unless an option states otherwise.
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
Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid is the aquarium trade name used here for Cynotilapia zebroides, a compact, blue-barred mbuna from the rocky shores of Lake Malawi. It is an active and strongly territorial mbuna cichlid for a planned hard-water aquarium, not a peaceful community fish. Adult males can be particularly forceful around rock caves and similarly patterned rivals.
This listing was previously labelled Cynotilapia afra "Chimate White". Current taxonomic work separates the widespread barred aquarium fish as Cynotilapia zebroides. We retain the familiar Chimate and dogtooth cichlid wording so aquarists can recognise the trade fish, but we do not claim that the present stock is wild-collected, locality-certified or a guaranteed pure Chimate Reef line. The supplier's older label alone cannot prove those details.
Choose the available dispatch size from the selector. Unless an option explicitly says otherwise, one quantity means one unsexed fish, not a pair. Juvenile colour and sex cannot be guaranteed. Plan the adult aquarium before ordering: a 120cm-long tank with around 250 litres is the practical minimum for a carefully managed species group, while 300 litres or more gives substantially better territory and stocking options.
The current gallery contains representative illustrations based on the supplier fish profile. They help show the expected blue-and-dark-barred body plan, but colour, white coverage, barring, sex, size, fin detail and aquarium scenery are illustrative rather than a photograph of the exact fish dispatched. The image showing two fish does not mean that this listing supplies a pair. Natural colour changes with age, sex, social rank, lighting and stress.
The short answer is that Cynotilapia zebroides is the safer current identification for the Chimate trade fish. For years, many blue-barred Cynotilapia from around Lake Malawi were sold and discussed as Cynotilapia afra. A re-examination of the original type material found that the fish widely called C. afra in the aquarium and scientific literature did not match the true type series. The barred, more widely distributed fish corresponded to the older species name zebroides.
A later revision restored these species to the genus Cynotilapia, producing the currently accepted combination Cynotilapia zebroides. FishBase now lists both C. zebroides and C. afra as accepted species, but with different distributions and diagnostic histories. This matters because repeating the older supplier wording as though it were settled taxonomy would create an inaccurate entity for customers and Google.
| Name seen in the trade | How this page treats it | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Chimate Dogtooth Cichlid | Useful common trade name | Recognisable to aquarists, but not a formal scientific name |
| Cynotilapia zebroides | Accepted species name used for this listing | Supported by the modern taxonomic revision and current FishBase record |
| Cynotilapia afra | Older trade or literature label | Still useful for finding historic information, but not treated here as the accepted identity of this form |
| "Afra white" or "Chimate White" | Supplier/trade wording only | It does not guarantee that an adult will be white or prove a locality-pure strain |
| Hai Reef / Chimate Reef | Reference locality associated with the named form | The name informs the profile, but this stock has no supplied locality certificate |
This transparent naming protects useful search relevance without pretending that a trade label proves collection history. If preserving exact locality lines is important to a breeding project, ask for documented provenance before mixing fish. We cannot infer F-generation, wild origin or locality purity from appearance alone.
You will receive the number of live fish added to the basket at the size selected on the product page. A quantity of one is one fish unless the selected option explicitly says "pair". Current options are size choices, and the live selector is the source of truth for availability and price. The fish is sold unsexed because small juveniles and subdominant individuals cannot be sexed reliably from colour alone.
Dispatch size is an approximate body-size band, not a promise that every fish measures exactly the same length. Live fish vary naturally within a batch. A 3-4cm juvenile will not look like a dominant adult male: it may be paler, greyer or less strongly barred, and it can change markedly as it settles and matures. Ordering several juveniles also does not guarantee a particular male-to-female ratio.
| Listing detail | What it means | What is not guaranteed |
|---|---|---|
| Selected size | Approximate dispatch body-size band | An exact measurement to the millimetre |
| Quantity 1 | One live fish | A pair or sexed group |
| Unsexed | Sex is not promised at dispatch | A male, female or chosen ratio |
| Representative gallery | Illustrates the trade form and body pattern | The exact fish, exact colour or pictured aquascape |
| Chimate trade name | Identifies the form sold by the supplier | Wild collection, locality certificate or breeding-line documentation |
FishBase reports a maximum of 9.3cm standard length for C. zebroides. Standard length excludes the tail fin, so a living fish measured to the end of the caudal fin can appear longer. The specialist Chimate profile reports females around 8cm and males around 10cm in the lake, with well-fed aquarium males sometimes reaching roughly 12cm. For stocking and territory planning, use 10-12cm as the adult allowance rather than the supplier's juvenile-oriented 8cm figure.
Growth rate depends on starting size, temperature, food, water quality and social stress. Fast growth is not a reason to overfeed. A juvenile should develop steadily on small, complete meals in clean water. Heavy feeding can increase waste and body mass without producing sound long-term condition.
We do not publish a fixed species-specific lifespan because the supplier information and the primary taxonomic sources do not provide a dependable aquarium figure for this exact form. Like other small mbuna, this fish can be a long-term commitment when kept well, but water quality, aggression and nutrition affect survival too strongly for an exact lifespan guarantee.
The Chimate form is associated with a compact mbuna body, a blue to pale-blue ground colour and dark vertical barring. Dominant males usually show the clearest contrast. Dark edging can appear through the dorsal and other fins, while yellow egg spots may be visible on the anal fin. Females and non-dominant males are commonly less intense and can look much more subdued than display photographs.
Colour is a living behavioural signal, not a fixed paint code. A fish may darken during territorial display, fade in a transport bag, become paler under bright lighting or change as its social status develops. Water quality, background, diet and stress can influence how the pattern is perceived. "White" in an older trade label should therefore not be read as a promise of a solid-white adult.
Visual sexing is unreliable at small sizes. Adult males are often larger, more strongly barred and more territorial, while females tend to remain smaller and less intensely coloured, but subdominant males can suppress colour. Venting a mature fish may improve confidence but should be performed only by someone experienced and with minimal handling. No juvenile in this listing is sold with a sex guarantee.
Cynotilapia zebroides is associated with rocky Lake Malawi shorelines. The Chimate/Hai Reef profile describes fish living in the upper rocky habitat, where males defend territories around caves and females or non-territorial fish move through the rocky zone and water above it. This is a high-oxygen environment with extensive stone surfaces, crevices and open water close together.
The genus has specialised jaws used to take small particles from the water column by suction. Non-territorial fish are described feeding on plankton above the rocks. Territorial males remain closer to their defended areas and can also take material from the biocover on rock surfaces. That mixed behaviour is why this page describes the species as a plankton-oriented omnivore, not as a strict algae eater.
Males use caves and rock faces as territory centres. The same spatial behaviour appears in aquariums: a male may claim a cave mouth, patrol a stretch of rock and chase rivals beyond an invisible boundary. A tank that looks large but has one uninterrupted line of sight can therefore work worse than a carefully structured aquarium with several independent rock zones.
Use a tank at least 120cm long and around 250 litres for a carefully planned adult group. A 300-litre or larger aquarium is preferred, especially for mixed mbuna, uncertain juvenile sex ratios or more than one adult male. This replaces the old 200-litre recommendation, which did not allow enough margin for the documented aggression of the Chimate form.
Footprint and rock layout matter more than height. A 120cm tank gives fish space to leave a territory, while a broad front-to-back dimension allows separate rock structures. Extra water volume also improves dilution and makes the system less vulnerable to rapid changes in waste, oxygen and temperature.
| Proposed setup | Assessment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Community aquarium under 120cm | Avoid | Too little escape distance and usually the wrong tank mates or water chemistry |
| 120cm, about 250L, species-focused group | Practical minimum | Can work with a mature filter, strong rock structure and a managed sex ratio |
| 120cm+, 300L or more | Preferred | More territory, dilution and stocking flexibility |
| Several adult males | Advanced and tank-dependent | Requires substantially more space, visual barriers and a removal plan |
| Unplanned mixed African cichlid tank | Avoid | Shared continent does not mean shared chemistry, diet or behaviour |
For broader preparation, read our Lake Malawi cichlid guide and the general cichlid care guide. The live African cichlid collection is useful for comparing size, water and temperament, but compatibility must still be assessed species by species.
Build the aquarium around stable rock structures with multiple caves, narrow passages and broken sight lines. Set heavy rocks securely before adding deep sand so digging cannot undermine them. Aquarium-safe limestone can help in naturally soft water, but it is not a substitute for measuring pH and hardness. In hard UK tap-water areas, inert rock may already be sufficient.
Create more potential territories than there are dominant fish. Each rock zone should have at least two exits so a subordinate fish cannot be trapped in a dead-end cave. Leave open swimming water above and in front of the rocks because non-territorial Cynotilapia also use the water column. A solid wall of rocks with no open route is no better than a bare tank.
Sand or fine smooth gravel is suitable. Sand looks natural and allows normal sifting and digging, but choose a grain that your filtration can tolerate. Plants are optional and are not a requirement of this habitat. If used, choose robust species attached to wood or rock and expect digging or grazing. The planted and driftwood scenes in the gallery are illustrative; they should not override the species' need for a rock-dominated Malawi layout.
Stand at one end of the empty aquascape and look through the tank. If you can see every cave entrance in one line, the fish probably can too. Rotate or separate structures until several areas are visually screened, then confirm that all rocks are stable.
The supplier care range for this stock is 24-26°C, pH 7.5-8.5 and 10-30 dGH. FishBase gives a similarly alkaline range for the species. Aim for the middle of a suitable range that your source water can hold steadily. A consistent pH of 8.0 is safer than repeatedly dosing the aquarium to chase 8.5 and producing daily swings.
| Parameter | Working range | Management note |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-26°C | Use a guarded, correctly sized heater and verify with a separate thermometer |
| pH | 7.5-8.5 | Stability and adequate buffering matter more than chasing the upper limit |
| General hardness | 10-30 dGH supplier range | Hard, mineralised water is required; measure the actual tap and tank water |
| Ammonia | 0 | Any detectable ammonia requires immediate investigation |
| Nitrite | 0 | A mature biological filter is essential |
| Nitrate | Keep low and stable | Use test results, stocking and feeding to set the water-change schedule |
Acclimation should minimise sudden temperature and chemistry changes, but do not leave a fish in fouled transport water longer than necessary. Prepare the receiving aquarium and quarantine system before delivery. Never add shop or transport water to the display aquarium. If your tap water is soft, research a repeatable Malawi mineral and buffering method before the fish arrives rather than adjusting by guesswork.
Mbuna are active feeders and a planned group can produce substantial waste. Use an established filter with enough biological capacity for the full adult stock, not merely the juveniles arriving now. Strong surface movement is important because warm water holds less oxygen. A canister, sump or well-sized internal system can all work if flow reaches waste traps and the surface is visibly moving.
There is no universal turnover number that proves a filter is adequate. Media volume, oxygen transfer, rock placement and maintenance affect performance. Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate; watch respiration; and remove trapped debris from behind rocks. Clean filter media in removed aquarium water when flow falls, preserving biological media from chlorine and temperature shock.
Change enough water, often weekly, to keep nitrate and dissolved waste under control without causing abrupt chemistry changes. The exact percentage depends on stocking and measured water quality. Match replacement water temperature and chemistry closely. Rock-heavy tanks can hide waste, so siphon accessible sand and use flow to prevent permanent dead areas.
The Chimate form should be treated as highly territorial. Dominant males can defend caves vigorously, chase females and attack similarly coloured or barred fish. This is not a defect that disappears with good care; it is species-typical behaviour that must be managed with space, stocking and an escape plan.
A commonly recommended adult structure is one male with three or four females. That ratio spreads courtship pressure, but it can only be implemented after fish mature and sex becomes reasonably clear. A group of unsexed juveniles may produce too many males. The keeper must be prepared to rehome or separate incompatible individuals rather than waiting for injuries.
Adding random single fish over time can destabilise an established hierarchy. If you are planning a group, decide the intended adult stock before purchase, quarantine new fish, and be ready to rearrange rockwork when introducing them. A divider, spare mature aquarium or reliable rehoming route is part of responsible aggressive-cichlid keeping.
Do not keep this fish with tetras, guppies, gouramis, corydoras, shrimp or other conventional community species. Their water needs, feeding behaviour and ability to withstand territorial pressure do not match. Do not rely on the old description that called this form peaceful.
Potential companions are robust Lake Malawi fish that share hard alkaline water but differ in colour pattern, body language and territory use. Even then, compatibility is conditional. The tank's length, rock layout, total stock, sex ratio and individual behaviour can turn a reasonable combination into a poor one.
| Companion type | Starting assessment | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Differently patterned, robust mbuna | Possible | Match adult size and chemistry; provide more than one rock territory |
| Yellow-Tail Acei | Possible in a larger planned Malawi tank | Different swimming style may reduce direct rivalry, but observation is still required |
| Electric Yellow Cichlid | Possible with care | Colour contrast helps, but both are mbuna and need sufficient space |
| Jalo Reef Dogtooth Mbuna or similar barred Cynotilapia | Avoid mixing | Similar appearance increases rivalry and creates hybridisation risk |
| Peacocks and haps | Specialist judgement only | Feeding, temperament and habitat use differ; a generic Malawi label is not enough |
| Other African lake fish | Usually avoid by default | Tanganyika and Victoria species are not automatically compatible |
| Peaceful community fish or invertebrates | Avoid | Likely to be stressed, injured or eaten and may require incompatible water |
Avoid another blue-and-black vertically barred male, especially another closely related Cynotilapia. Similarity can increase direct aggression and makes accidental hybridisation harder to detect. If preserving species identity matters, maintain one documented form per aquarium and do not distribute uncertain fry under a locality name.
Specialist and taxonomic sources describe a genus adapted to suction-feeding on small particles in the water column. Non-territorial fish take plankton above the rocks, while territorial males can also feed from the biocover around their territories.
Use a complete, appropriately sized Malawi or mbuna flake, small pellet or fine chip as the staple. A varied formula can include algae or spirulina and suitable aquatic protein such as crustacean or plankton ingredients. The natural history does not support treating every mbuna as a strict herbivore. At the same time, large fatty meals, mammalian meat and repeated heavy feeds are inappropriate for a small particle-feeder.
Offer one or two small meals daily, with juveniles receiving smaller portions more frequently only when filtration and maintenance support it. Spread food across the surface so subordinate fish can feed without entering a dominant male's territory. The correct portion is consumed promptly and leaves no food trapped among rocks. Adjust feeding from body condition and water tests, not from how eagerly the fish begs.
| Food type | Role | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Malawi/mbuna flake or small pellet | Staple | Choose a reputable complete food sized for the fish |
| Spirulina or algae-containing food | Useful part of variety | Supports a mixed formulation; it need not be the only ingredient |
| Cyclops, daphnia or similar small aquatic foods | Occasional variety | Offer modest portions that reflect plankton-sized feeding |
| Large bloodworm meals, mammalian meat or feeder fish | Avoid | Wrong size and nutritional pattern for routine feeding |
| Food left between rocks | Remove and reduce next portion | Trapped waste degrades water quality |
Our Malawi cichlid food listing shows one available format, but always read the current ingredient declaration and choose particle size for the fish being fed. No single food compensates for poor water quality or chronic social stress.
Cynotilapia zebroides is a maternal mouthbrooder. A territorial male displays and courts a receptive female near his chosen spawning area. After eggs are laid and fertilised, the female collects them in her mouth and carries the developing brood. She may hide more and eat little or nothing while holding.
Around three weeks is a useful expectation for mouthbrooding, but temperature, disturbance and the individual female affect timing. Do not repeatedly chase or handle a holding female. If she is being attacked, a separate mature aquarium with matching chemistry may be safer, but moving her also carries stress and can cause premature release.
Released fry need very small food, clean stable water and refuge from adults. Finely crushed complete food and suitable small live or frozen items can be offered in measured portions. Breeding is not guaranteed, and an unsexed order does not guarantee a breeding group. Do not sell or exchange fry as locality-pure Chimate unless the parentage is documented and no similar species could have crossed.
Healthy fish should breathe steadily, hold their fins normally, respond to food and move confidently between cover and open water. A newly transported fish may be pale or hide temporarily, but persistent clamped fins, rapid breathing, swelling, white spots, stringy waste, refusal to eat or repeated isolation needs investigation.
Check water before choosing medication. Ammonia, nitrite, oxygen shortage, temperature error, unstable pH and relentless aggression can create signs that resemble disease. Separate a fish that is being injured and correct the cause. Do not medicate a display tank without identifying the likely problem and confirming that the treatment is suitable for all inhabitants.
Quarantine new livestock in a mature, suitably sized system with matching hard alkaline water. Observe feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste before introducing the fish to an established Malawi aquarium. Equipment used with quarantine water should not be moved wet between tanks unless disinfected appropriately.
Only order after the aquarium is fully cycled, the water is already hard and alkaline, and the intended adult stocking plan is clear. Do not buy a juvenile on the assumption that a small fish can remain in a small tank. Confirm that you can provide at least a 120cm aquarium, secure rockwork, strong filtration and a way to separate aggression.
Review the live size selector, current price and availability on this page. The product title does not include a supplier code, and the care text does not turn an unsexed fish into a pair. If you need a documented sex, exact locality or breeding line, contact us before ordering rather than relying on colour or an image.
Live livestock is packed for tracked UK delivery and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee when the published conditions are followed. Read the current delivery and live-arrival information before selecting a delivery date. New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off a first order, subject to the current offer terms.
| Choice | Best reason to choose it | Main planning issue |
|---|---|---|
| Chimate Cynotilapia zebroides | Compact blue-barred mbuna with intense territorial behaviour | Needs a long rock-structured tank and careful male management |
| Yellow-Tail Acei | Contrasting colour and more use of open water | Still a social Malawi cichlid requiring a planned group and adult space |
| Electric Yellow Cichlid | Bright yellow contrast and familiar mbuna profile | Still territorial; colour difference does not guarantee peace |
| Another barred Cynotilapia | Useful as a separate display or comparison | Poor same-tank choice because of rivalry and hybridisation risk |
| Peacock cichlid | Different open-water display form | Different feeding and social strategy; mixed setups need specialist planning |
This is a strong choice for an experienced aquarist who wants to observe mbuna territory, courtship and rock-associated behaviour. It is a poor choice for someone seeking a calm centrepiece, a planted community fish, a guaranteed pair or an exact white adult. Choosing it for the right reason is more important than choosing it only for a photograph.
This page uses Cynotilapia zebroides. Cynotilapia afra remains an accepted but distinct species; many barred aquarium forms were historically placed under that name. The Chimate trade fish is better treated as C. zebroides under the modern revision.
The older identification was used widely in books, supplier catalogues and aquarium listings for many years. We mention it as a trade and search synonym so customers can reconcile old information, but we do not repeat it as the accepted species name.
No exact equivalence should be assumed. "White Top Afra" is used for several trade or locality forms. Chimate/Hai Reef has its own specialist profile, and this stock's supplier label does not document a certified locality line. Compare provenance, not just pale colour.
Plan for approximately 10-12cm for larger aquarium males, with many females nearer 8cm. FishBase records 9.3cm maximum standard length, which excludes the tail fin. Adult allowance should be based on total living size and territorial needs, not only a database measurement.
Use at least a 120cm-long aquarium of around 250 litres for a carefully planned group. A 300-litre or larger tank is preferred for mixed mbuna, uncertain juvenile sex ratios or more than one adult male.
No. The Chimate form is strongly territorial and adult males can be highly aggressive. Correct rockwork and stocking manage the risk; they do not make the fish peaceful.
A single fish removes breeding-group pressure but does not make it suitable for a small or peaceful community aquarium. It still needs the correct adult space, hard alkaline water and compatible robust companions, or a carefully considered species setup.
A common adult plan is one male with three or four females, but juveniles are sold unsexed and no ratio is guaranteed. Be prepared to remove extra males or an individual that is being attacked. Multiple males need substantially more space and experience.
Unless an option explicitly states otherwise, each quantity is one unsexed fish. The two-fish gallery scene is illustrative and does not make the sale unit a pair. Juvenile sex and eventual adult colour are not guaranteed.
Feed small portions of a complete Malawi or mbuna food, with varied aquatic and plant ingredients suited to a plankton-oriented omnivore. Small crustacean or plankton foods can form modest variety. Avoid large rich meals, mammalian meat and food left to decay among rocks.
That is usually a poor choice. Similar colour and barring can intensify rivalry, and closely related fish may hybridise. Differently patterned, robust Lake Malawi companions are a better starting point, but every combination still requires observation and a removal plan.
No. A secure rock-dominated layout with caves, visual barriers and open swimming water is more important. The plants and driftwood shown in some representative images are illustrative rather than a model of the natural habitat.
Not necessarily. Colour depends on sex, maturity, social rank, stress, lighting and individual variation. "Afra white" is an older supplier description, not a guarantee of a solid-white adult.
It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries fertilised eggs and developing young in her mouth, commonly for around three weeks. Breeding is not guaranteed, and uncertain-parentage fry should not be distributed under a locality claim.
It is better for an intermediate or advanced keeper who already understands cycling, hard-water chemistry and territorial cichlid stocking. A prepared beginner with a 120cm+ aquarium, experienced advice and a separation plan may succeed, but this is not a forgiving first community fish.
No. The current gallery is representative. It illustrates the expected trade form but not the exact fish dispatched, a guaranteed sex, precise adult colour or an appropriate natural aquascape. The size selector and written care facts should guide the purchase.
Eligible livestock orders are covered by the current Live Arrival Guarantee when its delivery, attendance and evidence conditions are followed. Review the linked delivery page before ordering because the published terms, dispatch days and postcode coverage are the authoritative details.
This care profile was manually checked against the current supplier care envelope and the sources below on 21 July 2026. Primary taxonomic work is used for the name; FishBase is used for accepted-name, range and size context; and the specialist Chimate profile is used for locality-form behaviour and aquarium husbandry. Where the supplier did not document provenance, sex or exact lineage, this page states the uncertainty rather than inventing it.
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
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