All fish / Cichlidae

Pseudotropheus fuscus

Pseudotropheus fuscus

Also known as fuscus mbuna, dusky mbuna, pseudotropheus sp. fuscus, fuscus cichlid

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A fairly plain mbuna from the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, with a dusky brown to bluish body crossed by faint darker bars, males turning darker and bluer when breeding. It is kept mainly by cichlid enthusiasts who want a less common species for a Malawi rock aquascape.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, in a well-stocked mbuna tank

Diet

Herbivore: spirulina flakes and pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a hard, alkaline aquarium with plenty of rockwork and several females per male.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can harass rivals and females, so avoid mixing with similar looking mbuna that may hybridise. Feed a low protein diet to reduce the risk of Malawi bloat.