Moderate
Red Fin Cichlid 4-7 cm (Tropheops tropheops)
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 250L
£11.99
Territorial Lake Malawi mbuna for hard, alkaline rock aquariums. Best for 250L+ setups with vegetable-led feeding and 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 tropheops
Red Fin Cichlid are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Territorial Lake Malawi mbuna for hard, alkaline rock aquariums. Best for 250L+ setups with vegetable-led feeding and 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
Red Fin Cichlid (Tropheops tropheops, often supplied under the older name Pseudotropheus tropheops) is a Lake Malawi mbuna for hard-water rock aquariums. It is active, territorial and best suited to fishkeepers who can plan space, rockwork and tank mates before purchase.
| Scientific name | Tropheops tropheops; older trade name Pseudotropheus tropheops |
|---|---|
| Adult size | Up to about 14 cm |
| Minimum aquarium | 250 litres or larger, with a wide rocky footprint |
| Water | 24-28C, pH 7.5-8.5, hard alkaline water |
| Temperament | Territorial mbuna; not for delicate peaceful setups |
| Diet | Vegetable-led herbivore diet with spirulina and algae-based foods |
Build the aquarium around rock piles, caves and broken sightlines. Red Fin Cichlids graze rock surfaces, hold territories and do best in mature, highly oxygenated water with strong filtration and regular maintenance. Avoid small aquariums and sparse layouts, because cramped sightlines make aggression harder to manage.
Use spirulina flake, herbivore cichlid pellets, algae wafers and occasional blanched greens. Keep rich meaty foods as rare treats, if used at all, because mbuna are prone to digestive trouble when fed too heavily on animal protein.
Choose robust Lake Malawi cichlids with similar water needs and temperament. Avoid small fish, shrimp, slow long-finned species and soft-water fish. A planned mbuna group with enough rockwork is much safer than mixing this fish casually into a peaceful display.
Eligible livestock orders are packed carefully and sent with a licensed live-animal courier where available. WELCOME10 gives 10% off eligible first orders, and livestock purchases are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
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