Malawi Cichlids
Protomelas taeniolatus
Protomelas taeniolatus
Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature24–27 °C
- pH7.5–8.5
- Minimum tank300 l
- Adult size15 cm
- Difficulty★★☆☆☆
- TemperamentSemi-aggressive
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Size
- 15 cm
- Temperature
- 24 – 27°C
- pH
- 7.5 – 8.5
- GH
- 10 – 20 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★☆☆☆
- Water type
- tropical freshwater (hard and alkaline)
- Swimming level
- medium – low
- Behavior
- semi-aggressive
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male and 3 females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 300 L
- Diet
- Omnivorous (feeds on algae and small invertebrates)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; maternal mouthbrooding
Notes: Known as the “red empress”: males have an orange-red body and a blue head. One of the most colorful haploids.
