Tropheus Duboisi Breeding Guide (Tropheus duboisi)

Breeding Tropheus duboisi: a maternal mouthbrooder from Lake Tanganyika kept in large colonies, carrying small broods of 5 to 15 eggs for over four weeks.

Overview

Tropheus duboisi is a herbivorous, algae-grazing cichlid endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika, reaching about 12 cm. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the young use the mother's mouth as a shelter for some time after hatching.

Sexing

The sexes are difficult to distinguish visually. Males have pointed genital papillae and females rounded ones, but examining these structures is recommended only for experienced keepers.

Conditioning

Feed a primarily vegetable diet and keep water quality high. Tropheus are very susceptible to bloat, and beefheart and similar rich foods interfere with their digestive system and should be avoided. Reported parameters are a temperature of 23 to 27 degrees Celsius (73 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit), a pH of 8.0 to 9.5 and hardness of 8 to 25 dH.

Breeding Setup

Keep a colony of 15 to 20 fish to diffuse aggression. Each male requires roughly 2 feet of territory, with about 6 to 10 females per male, so a large rock-furnished tank is needed.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Fish spawn in open water over rocks. The female either catches the eggs in her mouth before they settle or retrieves them from rock crevices, then nuzzles the male's vent to take up milt and fertilise the clutch.

Egg & Fry Care

The female may carry a small brood of 5 to 15 eggs for over four weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Once free-swimming, the fry accept brine shrimp nauplii, microworm and powdered dry foods, and seek shelter in the mother's mouth when threatened.

Common Challenges

Aggression is intense, and keeping a large colony to spread it is essential. Bloat is a constant risk linked to diet and water quality, and the small brood size limits yield per spawn.