Moderate
Red Fin Cichlid 4-7 cm (Tropheops tropheops)
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 250L
£11.99
XL Red Fin Cichlid (Tropheops tropheops) for established Lake Malawi mbuna aquariums. Territorial herbivore needing 250L+, rockwork and hard alkaline water.
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 XL are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
XL Red Fin Cichlid (Tropheops tropheops) for established Lake Malawi mbuna aquariums. Territorial herbivore needing 250L+, rockwork and hard alkaline water.
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 XL is a larger stocked size of Tropheops tropheops, a territorial Lake Malawi mbuna with bold red-fin colour and active rockwork behaviour. It suits an established Malawi aquarium, not a peaceful community tank.
This XL option is best for keepers who already have space and compatible mbuna planned. Provide hard alkaline water, strong filtration and a rocky layout with broken sight lines so the fish can hold territory without constant contact.
Keep Red Fin Cichlids in a mature Lake Malawi setup with a wide footprint, plenty of rockwork and stable mineral content. Aim for 24-28C, pH 7.5-8.5 and hard water around 10-25 dGH. Strong filtration and regular water changes matter more than chasing a single perfect number.
Use caves, stacked rocks and open swimming lanes. Broken sight lines help reduce pressure between mbuna, especially with larger stock. Avoid soft acidic community conditions, delicate plants that will be uprooted, and cramped aquariums where every fish can see every other fish all day.
Tropheops tropheops is an aufwuchs-grazing mbuna, so feed a vegetable-led routine: spirulina flakes, herbivore cichlid pellets, algae wafers and occasional blanched greens. Keep rich meaty foods as an occasional treat rather than the main diet, as heavy protein feeding is a common cause of Malawi cichlid problems.
Choose robust hard-water fish that can live with territorial mbuna behaviour. Good matches are carefully selected Lake Malawi mbuna and suitable Synodontis catfish in larger aquariums. Avoid peaceful peacocks, delicate haps, small community fish, shrimp, slow long-finned fish and soft-water species.
Eligible livestock orders are packed for temperature stability and sent through a licensed live-animal courier. New customers can use WELCOME10 on eligible first orders, and qualifying livestock deliveries are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
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