Pseudotropheus

A family of freshwater fish known as pseudotropheus is indigenous to the stony shores of Lake Malawi in Africa. Aquarium enthusiasts love these cichlids because of their lively behavior and vibrant colors. They breathe vibrant life into any tank, but they need to be carefully and knowledgeablely cared for.

Particularly when they are spawning, these fish can be aggressive and possessive. Maintaining their health and happiness requires an understanding of their behavior and creating the ideal environment. Pseudotropheus have unique requirements that are vital to their health, from tank setup to diet.

Pseudotropheus can be a rewarding addition to your aquarium if handled properly. Learning about these fascinating fish will help you create a thriving environment for them to flourish, regardless of your level of experience with aquarists or cichlids.

External characteristics

The fish has an elongated oval dense body covered with small scales. All fins are well formed: a powerful symmetrical tail, a long dorsal fin, large pectoral and anal fins. The elongated muzzle ends in a large mouth with plump lips. The mouth opens so well that small fish can easily fit into it. Pseudotropheus has a flexible spine, which allows it not only to swim in a straight line, but also to go around rocks, moving nimbly and quickly. Huge round black eyes with a border notice any prey. Pseudotropheus is a toothy predator that demonstrates high intelligence and aggression in the aquarium. Life expectancy in captivity is 8-10 years. How long these fish live depends on the conditions created for them by the owner of the aquarium.

Pseudotropheus are colorful, energetic cichlids from Lake Malawi in Africa that are distinguished by their bold colors and aggressive nature. Their ideal habitats are well-designed aquariums with lots of hiding places. They also need a diet that is balanced and includes both plant-based and protein-rich foods. Because of their bold personalities, these fish are well-liked by aquarists; however, because of their aggressive nature, they require special care to maintain a healthy, harmonious environment.

Types of pseudotropheus

• pseudotropheus demasoni – extremely aggressive babies. They grow to a maximum of 9 cm, but a pair of demasoni can win over an aquarium of 180-200 liters. The main color of the body is dark blue, across which blue stripes in the form of irregular diamonds are visible. The fins closer to the tail can be yellowish, sandy, brown;

Ways to maintain pseudotropheus

The requirements of the keeping mandate that the bottom be designed in accordance with the guidelines. Features like caves, grottoes, rocks, and shelters are common in marine-style aquariums, also known as pseudo-sea aquariums. An attractive biotope that is cozy for Malawi cichlids can be created by the aquarist by adding white soil and a blue backdrop. It’s crucial to pay attention to additional parameters.

Aquarium arrangement

• Aquarium volume – at least 180-200 l. Many species do not tolerate relatives in neighbors, so it is permissible to combine several Malawians in one aquarium. Overcrowding inevitably leads to conflicts, which usually end with the death of the weaker opponent. Therefore, it is not allowed to settle aggressive pseudotropheus in a smaller volume;
• soil – fine gravel with a fraction of 3-5 mm. Color – any. A natural shade or snow-white quartz is preferable;
• a filter for an aquarium with pseudotropheus is only possible external: it copes well with a large volume, saturates the water with useful elements and removes organic matter well;
• aeration – standard, compressor, it is necessary to aerate around the clock;
• moderate lighting, with shaded areas. With a good lamp, the color of the fish becomes brighter and more advantageous;
• artificial plants can easily replace natural ones. Pseudotropheus are not averse to eating any living plants: gnaw and dig them up. In such conditions, plants become not an ornament, but a headache for the aquarist. If you still decide to create the most natural atmosphere, water lilies, nemphaea, echinodorus are suitable: they have a developed root system and dense leaves;
• decor includes piles of stones (volcanic tuff and others), ceramic pipes, castles, jugs. The main thing is to create as many shelters as possible, so that there are enough for all the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Water parameters

• temperature 24-28°C;
• hardness 4-20°;
• acidity 7.2-8.5 pH;

For the purpose of maintaining color and immunity, Malawi cichlids eat mostly plant food in the form of specialty dry mixtures. You can include live foods like pollock fillet, corethra, and bloodworms, both frozen and fresh. Once a week, large representatives are treated to small fish, which the cichlids eagerly catch to demonstrate their innate hunting instincts. You shouldn’t misuse live food: mbuna have a propensity to only consume protein foods and reject plant foods, which causes obesity and early mortality. The aquarist’s job is to keep a close eye on the ratio of nutrients to food.

Conduct and suitability

The primary distinction among most pseudotropheuses is their aggressiveness. Males in particular are particularly ferocious; they can attack other members of their species and willfully guard their preferred hiding place. Pseudotropheus pindani is one species that is less aggressive, but for other species, it is advised to maintain one male with three to four females. Though there are some warlike representatives among the female half, generally speaking, they are less aggressive (e.g., demasoni).

Only Lake Malawian cichlids, which are either slightly larger than pseudotropheuses, may be neighbors. Most likely, small predatory fish will be consumed.

When mbuna reach sexual maturity, they start to act more actively, setting up a nest and tending to the females. The likelihood of various species of pseudotropheuses coexisting peacefully in one "room" increases with the number of shelters and aquarium volume.

Cichlids from higher layers can coexist with mbuna because they prefer to live close to the bottom.

How to identify the gender

• Some species differ greatly in color: blue males and yellow females or vice versa;
• Sometimes males have markings: bright stripes (in this case, their females will most likely have spots), dots on the anal fin;
• Females are much calmer;
• Some pseudotropheuses have differences in size: females are slightly smaller and rounder than males.

Breeding and reproduction

Pseudotropheuses don’t need a separate spawning tank to reproduce in a home aquarium. Around a year is when sexual maturity happens.

The process of reproduction of pseudotropheuses

These fish use their mouths to carry their young. Up to one hundred eggs can be fertilized by the male during a single spawning, after which the female gathers them all in her mouth. She doesn’t eat anything for two to three weeks during this period. Therefore, increased feeding is the first step in getting ready for spawning.

After birth, the fry remain attached to their mother for a while, hiding in her mouth from any threat. It’s possible that male pseudotropheus don’t make the best fathers because they eat helpless, feeble kids. Furthermore, the other fish in the aquarium always view the young as prey. In a communal aquarium, only one or two individuals at most make it to adulthood after mating. It is therefore still advised to move the female to a spawning tank if additional offspring need to be saved. Its water parameters are comparable to those of a typical aquarium, although it can have a much smaller capacity (50–60 litri).

It is preferable to move the female as soon as the fry can swim independently when using a spawning tank. They eat standard junior starter fare.

Illnesses and ways to prevent them

Adult Malawi cichlids typically have very good immunity. However, if the terms of incarceration are broken, it might decline and illnesses might surface:

• fungal infections;
• bacterial foci;
• viral diseases;
• mechanical damage after fights with neighbors.

Diseases show up as dropsy, body ulcers, sluggishness, and a loss of scale luster. To treat certain parasitic infections (like ichthyophthirius), medications are added to the water. Unfortunately, some (the bacterial "Malawi disease") are irreversible.

Preventive measures include quarantining all fish before putting them in the aquarium, cleaning the equipment on a regular basis, and maintaining the aquarium.

A fascinating option for any aquarist wishing to add vivid colors and dynamic behavior to their tank are pseudotropheus cichlids. Their remarkable looks and unique personalities allow them to take center stage in an aquarium very quickly.

But maintaining them takes careful preparation. Because of their reputation for being territorial, these fish need plenty of room and places to hide. Their wellbeing can be greatly increased by having suitable tank mates and an environment that is kept up.

Pseudotropheus cichlids are beautiful and active, and you can enjoy their company in your aquarium for many years to come if you understand their needs and provide an appropriate habitat. They will test your abilities as a fishkeeper, but the effort will be well worth it for the rewards.

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