Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Tropheus: Greek, tropaion = defeat, a memorial of a fighting war, trophy; because of their specialized teeth were such an obvious feeding adaptation (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 8.5 - 9.0; dH range: 10 - 12. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672); 3°S - 6°S
Africa: endemic to Lake Tanganyika, patchy distribution in the northern part of the lake (Ref. 6770, 46829, 97323).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5713)
Prefers the upper rocky habitat where it feeds on the algae attached to the rocks (Ref. 7343, 46829). Occurs to a depth of 30 m; maternal mouthbrooder; females guard their offspring for a few days after releasing them for first time (Ref. 46829). Aquarium keeping: many females for one male; minimum aquarium size 150 cm (Ref. 51539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Produces 5-15 eggs.
Konings, A., 1998. Tanganyika cichlids in their natural habitat. Cichlid Press. 272 p. (Ref. 46829)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
CITES (Ref. 128078)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01905 (0.00827 - 0.04391), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).