Tropheus moorii
Tropheus moorii
A herbivorous Tanganyika cichlid with dozens of colour forms; fights its own kind so hard that it is kept only in big groups of one form.
Key facts
- Body length
- 5.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 99 gallons
- Group
- 15+
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Spirulina flakes and pellets, nori; no meaty foods
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
- Hardier than3%
- Bigger than69%
- Calmer than14%
Water: their range vs yours
Tropheus moorii tank mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Malaysian trumpet snailMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Malaysian trumpet snail.Risky
- Mystery snailMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Mystery snail.Risky
- Ramshorn snailMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Colombian ramshornMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Colombian ramshorn.Risky
- Great pond snailMoorii (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Great pond snail.Risky
- Neon tetraMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Fancy guppyMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Panda corydorasMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- OtocinclusMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpMoorii should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for Tropheus moorii: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 14.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 91.46 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 19.00 BU
- Min. water
- 318 L net
- Min. footprint
- 150 × 45 cm per group
- Group
- 15+ (best 20)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- herbivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- nitrate
Sources: Seriously Fish: Tropheus moorii
Care notes
Tropheus moorii grow to about 5.5 inches and graze algae on rocks. There are more than fifty regional colour forms, and they are very prone to bloat on the wrong food.
Keep a group of 15 to 20 of a single form in a 5-foot tank of 90 gallons or more, since small groups can fight to the death. Feed only vegetable food such as spirulina, never mix colour forms and do not add new fish to an established group.
Questions
What size tank does a tropheus moorii need?
At least 99 gallons (318 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 5.7 inches without fins.
How many Tropheus moorii should be kept together?
Keep at least 15, ideally 20 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do Tropheus moorii need?
73–81 °F, pH 8–9.5 and 8–25 dGH. Tropheus moorii come from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa.
How long do Tropheus moorii live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with Tropheus moorii?
Good tank mates include Assassin snail. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.