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Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek"

Macrophthalmus Red Cheek ~ Big Eye

Family: CichlidaePseudotropheus tropheops tropheopsPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Frank Schneidewind

   Spunky and pretty, the Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" is a fine addition to a Mbuna tank to create a good color mix!

   The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" is very attractive fish with a great color combination of yellow and blue. The females of this species are all yellow instead of a drab color like a lot of Mbunas, giving a nice eye-pleasing variety. Their most distinguishing naming feature is related to the yellow to red color in the area of their cheeks and chin. Several other different names are used for them, including Pseudotropheus Tropheops Red Head, Pseudotropheus Big Eye, and Macropthalmus Red cheek. But the most interesting description we've found for them is 'M'kokafodya', interpreted in the Mbuna language as 'Glowing Fire' or 'Live Coal', from Nick Andreola's article, "Tropheops sp. "red cheek"". (see References)

   Though not a community tank specimen to be housed with fish other than cichlids, the Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" will do well in a Mbuna aquarium. They are not demanding, are pretty hardy if their water is kept clean, and are easy to breed if they are happy. The males are very aggressive toward the females however, especially when breeding. A male needs to be kept with five or more females to help dampen the aggression. Provide lots of caves and rocks for them to explore and to hide in, especially when the male is abusing the females. Arranging the rocks in a manner to make "territories" will help ease aggression, as will keeping them in a large aquarium with other Mbuna species. Success is dependent on the aquarists willingness to do frequent water changes, have sufficient hiding places, and provide appropriate tank mates.

   The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" is in a group of cichlids called Mbunas. There are 12 genera full of very active and aggressive personalities. The Mbuna's have been bred in captivity and with all the different hybrids that have been formed, there is no way to tell exactly what you are getting unless it is from a reputable dealer. Try and keep the different species blood lines pure.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:    The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" was described by Regan in 1922. They are found in Lake Malawi, Africa from the Maleri Islands to the Chinyamwezi Rocks. Particularly found in the turbulent, yet clean shores of Likoma and Chizumulu Island in the top 9 to 15 feet of the water column. They live in sediment free zones and feed at an angle, shear off algae from the substrate which may contain Aufwuchs. Some will maintain "algal gardens" .They will also eat plankton in the water if there is a lot of it available.

  The genus Pseudotropheus was formerly used for a variety of Lake Malawi mbuna species.  Recent revisions split the genus into three sub-genera: Pseudotropheus Pseudotropheus, Pseudotropheus Tropheops, and Pseudotropheus Metriaclima. (There is some debate on the naming of this last sub-genera, these fish may be found described as either Metriaclima or Maylandia.)

Status:    This species is listed on the IUCN Red List with the status of 'VU', meaning 'Vulnerable'.

Description:    The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" has the typical Mbuna elongated 'torpedo' body shape. Their mouth is positioned lower on the head than other species, the lower jaw is shorter than upper jaw, and it has a steep sloping snout. They vary in color depending on location. The males are mainly blue with yellow to red in the area of their cheeks and chin, and a little across the back just under the dorsal fin. The front three quarters of the dorsal fin is blue and the remainder is yellow. The tail fin is yellow and there are yellow egg spots on the anal fin. From some locations the males can be mostly yellow with blue across the top back, and can have more blue in the fins. Yet still they have the yellow to red chin and cheek feature. The females are gold and sometimes have spotting on them.
   All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
   Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense "smells" in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being "sampled" for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to "smell" the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.

Size - Weight:    The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" grows to a length of 8" (20 cm).

Care and feeding:    The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" is an omnivore that in the wild will shear off algae from the substrate which may contain Aufwuchs and will also eat plankton. In captivity they need vegetable matter which provides fiber in their diet to keep their intestinal tract disease free. A good quality cichlid flake or pellet can be used as a basic diet along with spirulina flake giving a varied diet to help with overall health. It is always better to feed them small amounts several times a day instead of one large feeding. This keeps the water quality higher for a longer period of time. Of course, all fish benefit from added vitamins and supplements to their foods. It would not be wise to house this fish with other genus of cichlids that eat beef heart or other mammal meat, as these foods will cause intestinal infections and death in these fish.
   A minimum 40 gallons for one is suggested, or a larger aquarium to keep more than one or a mixed Mbuna tank. They do fine in either freshwater or brackish freshwater but need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. They need lots of caves and rocks for them to explore and to hide in, especially when the male is abusing the females. Females need lots of hiding places. Arranging the rocks in a manner to make "territories" will help ease aggression. Moving rocks around every two weeks to a month may also help with an overly aggressive fish.
   Malawi Cichlids will deteriorate under poor water conditions. Along with an established filtration system, a water change of of 30% a week, or 20% to 40% biweekly depending on load, is needed for their health. Malawi bloat is a typical disease especially if their dietary needs are not met with quality foods. It is caused by too much protein matter. They can contract other diseases that ail all freshwater fish.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:    These fish will swim in the middle and bottom areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    The streams that flow into Lake Malawi have a high mineral content. This along with evaporation has resulted in alkaline water that is highly mineralized. Lake Malawi is known for its clarity and stability as far as PH and other water chemistries. It is easy to see why it is important to watch tank parameters with all Lake Malawi fish. A higher PH means that ammonia is more lethal, so water changes are a must for these fishes. A very slow acclimation to different PH levels can sometimes be achieved.
   Hardness: 10° dH
   Ph: 8.0 - 9.0
   Temp: 75 - 78° F (24 -26° C)

Social Behaviors:    This cichlid is aggressive and is not considered to be a community fish. They can be housed with other Mbunas as long as their size and coloring is different. They can be temperamental, aggressive and very territorial especially when spawning. They are not aggressive toward females of other species, but may chase after the males.
   The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" needs be be grouped with one male and at least 5 or more females since the males are very very rough on them. Provide lots of hiding places so the females can can get a break. You may decide, after spawning, to take the female out so she can heal and hatch her babies in peace.

Sexual Differences:    The males are mainly blue accented with yellow, are larger, and have yellow egg spots on the anal fin, the females are yellow.

Breeding/Reproduction:    The Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" has been bred in captivity and is a mouthbrooder. Once the dominant male decides to breed, he will become severely aggressive and pummel his females. You need to have at least 5 females to spread out the aggression. Like other Mbunas the males coloring will change. He will shake and circle the female, moving her to a flat rock in his territory, then the breeding begins.
   The female will lay between 10 - 40 eggs, depending on her size. The female then immediately takes them into her mouth. The male will then flare out his anal fin which has an 'egg spot' patterning. The female mistakes the patterning for her own eggs and tries to take them in her mouth as well. This stimulates the male to discharge sperm (milt cloud) and the female inhales the cloud of 'milt', thus fertilizing the eggs. In 7 - 10 days at about 80 - 82° F the eggs hatch. The fry are free swimming in another 10 to 17 days.
   Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" females are very good mothers and may protect the fry in her mouth for another 10 days after the fry are free swimming. These fry are a little bigger than other Mbuna fry and are a silvery color at first. Their coloring will be visible in 3 weeks. They can eat daphnia and crushed flake. They will eat voraciously so keep the water clean. See the description of how cichlids breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:    Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek" are occasionally found online or in fish stores and can run about $35.00 USD for a two inch specimen, $55.00 USD for a pair. Juveniles are occasionally available, and will run about $10.00 USD. These fish may be special ordered if you are willing to wait for them if they are out of season.
   When acquiring a Tropheops Sp. "Red Cheek", with all the different hybrids that have formed in captivity, there is no way to tell exactly what you are getting unless it is from a reputable dealer.

Author: Carrie McBirney

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