Tropheops tropheops 'Chilumba'

Tropheops tropheops 'Chilumba' is the locale form of the robust Tropheops tropheops species collected from the Chilumba area on the northwestern shoreline of Lake Malawi. Males display blue to grey-blue body colouration with bright yellow to golden highlights in the dorsal fin, differing subtly in intensity from southern populations. Females are brownish-yellow to orange-tan.

The species has a distinctively robust lower jaw and thickened lips, morphological features adapted for forcefully scraping Aufwuchs algae from hard rock surfaces. This feeding specialisation makes a purely algae-based captive diet mandatory. As with all Tropheops, this species is highly territorial and aggressive — males will aggressively pursue rival males and persistently court females. A 1M:3–4F harem in a heavily stacked, rocky 200+ L tank is the recommended setup. Females mouthbrood for 21–28 days.

Water: 24–28°C, pH 7.8–8.5, hard (GH 10–25, KH 6–15); water changes of 25% weekly recommended. Tank: 200 L minimum; rock structures filling most of the tank volume; limit soft decorations that this species will destroy. Feeding: Strict algae diet — spirulina flake, algae pellets, blanched greens; bloat risk is high if animal protein is fed. Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder; 21–28 day hold; remove brooding female to a quiet tank to reduce stress. Compatibility: Best in single-species or mixed-mbuna tanks; do not mix Chilumba and other T. tropheops locales together.