−15%
Moderate
Coral Red Saulosi Mbuna (Chindongo saulosi)
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 150L
£11.89£13.99
Bright Lake Malawi mbuna for hard-water rock aquariums. Territorial herbivore; best in 250L+ setups with robust cichlid 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.
Tropheops sp. 'Chilumba'
Orange Chilumba Cichlid bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Bright Lake Malawi mbuna for hard-water rock aquariums. Territorial herbivore; best in 250L+ setups with robust cichlid 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.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
The Orange Chilumba Cichlid is a bright Lake Malawi mbuna for aquarists who want a lively, rock-dwelling cichlid with real attitude. It is commonly traded as Tropheops sp. 'Chilumba'; older supplier lists may also place it around Pseudotropheus or Tropheops tropheops wording. The useful buying point is the same either way: this is a territorial Malawi rock grazer, not a gentle mixed-community fish.
Choose this fish for a mature hard-water aquarium with strong filtration, high oxygen and plenty of stable rockwork. It suits keepers who already understand mbuna behaviour or who are ready to plan a dedicated Lake Malawi setup carefully.
Build the aquarium around rockwork. Secure stones should create caves, ledges and broken sight lines so males can defend a territory without chasing every fish across the whole tank. Sand or fine coral sand works well, and rocks should sit on the tank base before substrate is added so digging cannot collapse the structure.
Keep the water mineral-rich and stable. This fish is not suited to soft acidic community conditions. Use strong biological filtration, surface movement and regular water changes, because busy mbuna aquariums create a steady waste load.
Feed a mostly herbivorous diet: spirulina flake, algae wafers, vegetable-rich cichlid pellets and occasional blanched greens. Avoid frequent bloodworm, rich meaty foods and heavy protein feeds. Mbuna graze naturally through the day, so small portions are safer than one large meal.
Keep Orange Chilumba Cichlids with robust Lake Malawi species that tolerate the same hard alkaline water and social pressure. Tetras, guppies, shrimp, slow cichlids and delicate bottom dwellers are poor matches. A typical plan is one male with several females, or a carefully balanced mbuna community in a larger rock-filled tank.
Useful comparisons include Coral Red Saulosi Mbuna, Blue OB Masinje Zebra Mbuna, Pseudotropheus Tropheops Red Fin, Pseudotropheus Membe Deep and Snow White Cichlid.
Use WELCOME10 for 10% off your first eligible order. Livestock is packed for overnight travel with a licensed live-animal courier and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Acclimate slowly into hard alkaline water, keep the lights low at first and let the fish settle into the rockwork before feeding heavily.
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 150L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 250L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 500L
20–27°C · pH 6–7 · 54L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.8 · 300L
24–28°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 120L
18–28°C · pH 6.5–8 · 20L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.8 · 150L
22–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 40L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 500L
28–30°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 300L
