Blue dolphin cichlid
Cyrtocara moorii
A sky-blue Malawi cichlid with a fatty forehead hump; calm and sociable over open sand, but no match for boisterous mbuna.
Key facts
- Body length
- 9.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 80 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and krill
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, East Africa
- Hardier than30%
- Bigger than89%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Blue dolphin cichlid tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Bristlenose pleco; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 12450 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Convict cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 8400 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Firemouth cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Firemouth cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- GoldfishBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Goldfish; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Jewel cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 9300 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Neon tetraBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for blue dolphin cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 25 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 468.75 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 46.05 BU
- Min. water
- 257 L net
- Min. footprint
- 150 × 38 cm per group
- Group
- 3+ (best 9)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Cyrtocara moorii
Care notes
Blue dolphins grow to about 10 inches and develop a tall hump on the forehead. They cruise in loose groups over sand and are calm for their size.
Keep two or three females per male in a 5-foot tank of 75 gallons or more, with open sand. Rough mbuna stress them, and small fish may well be bullied or eaten.
Questions
What size tank does a blue dolphin cichlid need?
At least 80 gallons (257 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 9.8 inches without fins.
How many blue dolphin cichlids should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 9 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do blue dolphin cichlids need?
77–81 °F, pH 8–8.5 and 10–25 dGH. Blue dolphin cichlids come from Lake Malawi, East Africa.
How long do blue dolphin cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with blue dolphin cichlids?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blood parrot cichlid, Clown loach, Common pleco and Discus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.