All fish / Cichlidae

Duboisi Cichlid

Tropheus duboisi

Also known as duboisi, white-spotted cichlid, blue-faced duboisi, tropheus duboisi maswa, duboisi kigoma, duboisi karilani, duboisi bemba, dubosi, トロフェウス・ドゥボイシ, 白点蓝面蝴蝶, 杜氏蓝面蝴蝶

Juveniles are black with bold white spots, while adults develop a blue head and a yellow or white band around the body. It is kept for this striking colour change and its lively behaviour around rockwork, grazing algae from the stones.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Colony of 10 or more in a large tank, or a single specimen; avoid pairs and small groups

Diet

Herbivore: spirulina flakes and pellets, algae, blanched greens; avoid rich meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder that lays only a few large eggs, which the female carries for about four weeks. Breeding is achievable in a well-fed, stable colony, but the low brood size means progress is slow.

Good to know

Highly prone to bloat if fed protein-rich foods or kept in poor water, so a plant-based diet and frequent water changes are essential. Fights within the species can be fierce, so overstocking a large rocky tank is the usual approach to spread aggression.