Tropheus sp. 'mpimbwe' Mwaka (Korongwe Bay) ; (Dahabu Yellow Cheek)

Telmatochromis cf. temporalis 'Korongwe Bay, Mwaka'.jpg

Tropheus sp. 'mpimbwe' Mwaka (Korongwe Bay).jpg

Tropheus sp. 'mpimbwe' Mwaka (Korongwe Bay) <br>(Dahabu Yellow Cheek)

Tribe / Genus:	Tropheini / Tropheus
Biotope:	Rocky littoral habitats along the southern Tanzanian coast, including headlands and rocky stretches bordering bays. Several populations occur in close proximity to other Tropheus species across embayments, and some localities are described as involving recent or ongoing hybridization with neighboring Tropheus forms.
Geographic distribution:	Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania), between Karema and Kafwila in Korongwe Bay. Multiple geographic variants are reported along this range, including populations at Katondo Point, Shanshete (north of Katondo Point), Kolwe Point, Kemp, and areas around Cape Mpimbwe.
Typical adult size:	Up to about 17 cm total length (males); females typically remain 1–2 cm smaller.
Sexual dimorphism:	Females and juveniles are strongly barred, while adult males are much more uniformly dark brown to brown-black and are commonly recognised by their larger size. In some forms, males show a bright yellow to orange patch on the lower cheek/gill cover (red-cheeked or yellow-cheeked forms). Females may show narrow pale bars (often 1–2 scales wide), which can fade when mouthbrooding.
Recommended aquarium size:	An aquarium with a minimum volume of 500 liters and a length of at least 150 cm is recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Use fine sand as the substrate. To provide sufficient refuges for persecuted cichlids, place a substantial number of rocks in the tank. It is advisable to use the rocks to create at least one, or several, visual barriers. There are no plants in the natural habitat of Tropheus, so they are not required in the aquarium. If plants are desired for aesthetic reasons or to slightly assist with water quality, choose species with tougher leaves (Vallisneria, Anubias, Ceratophyllum, etc.), which are generally left untouched by Tropheus. Water chemistry is of critical importance. The pH must be above 7.5 (approximately 7.5 to 9.5). Temperature should be kept consistently between 24 and 27°C and must never exceed 29°C, as this can be fatal. Higher temperatures increase oxygen demand while simultaneously reducing dissolved oxygen levels. In Lake Tanganyika, the upper 40 m of water is very clear and rich in oxygen; therefore, the aquarium should also be well oxygenated using air pumps, filter outlets directed toward the surface, or circulation pumps that enhance surface agitation. Tropheus are highly sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The filtration system must therefore be powerful and biologically mature. Ammonia and nitrite cause immediate poisoning, while elevated nitrate levels lead to a gradual deterioration of health. Regular weekly water changes of 30–50% are essential, and replacement water should also be well oxygenated. It is practically impossible to recreate the natural environment of Tropheus in an aquarium, as this would require an extremely large system. In the wild, most adult Tropheus are territorial; similarly, in the aquarium one or a few territorial males occupy defined areas, leaving limited space for other males and females. Because food availability in the aquarium is higher than in nature, non-territorial individuals tend to suppress the need to establish separate feeding territories. Tropheus are best maintained in relatively large groups of approximately 15 to 25 individuals. In such groups, there may be several males, but there should be at least three to four females per male. Typically, only one male becomes dominant, occupies a territory, and is the only individual that spawns. In community aquaria, somewhat smaller groups may also be kept. Suitable tank mates include other herbivorous Tanganyikan cichlids, such as smaller Petrochromis species, goby cichlids (Eretmodus, Tanganicodus, and Spathodus)... Different geographic variants of the same Tropheus species should never be kept together due to the high risk of hybridization. Different Tropheus species may be kept together, preferably those that naturally occur at the same locations. For example, T. duboisi can generally be housed with other Tropheus species, although its lower aggressiveness often makes a species-only aquarium the better choice. When establishing a group, it is best to introduce a larger number of juveniles so territories develop gradually as the fish grow. Introducing adults often results in extremely violent territorial conflicts. Adding Tropheus to an already established group with defined territories is also very difficult.
Diet:	Herbivorous. In the lake, Tropheus feed primarily on filamentous algae from the aufwuchs. In the aquarium, some of these algae may grow on rocks, but usually not in sufficient quantity to form the main diet. As a staple, flake food with a high spirulina content is most suitable. Occasionally, foods such as Daphnia, Cyclops, and Mysis can be offered, as some of this prey is also ingested during natural algae grazing. High-protein foods must be strictly avoided, as they can be lethal. Tropheus have a very long digestive tract adapted to a low-protein diet, and excessive protein intake can quickly lead to the condition known as bloat, to which they are extremely susceptible. Adult fish should be fed once per day, only as much as they can consume within two minutes. Feeding can also be divided into several smaller meals per day, provided the total daily amount remains the same.
Breeding:	Typical mouthbrooders. Tropheus usually begin breeding at around 12 months of age, although some individuals may start considerably later. Spawning begins with the dominant male chasing the female. In the wild, breeding starts when a female enters the male’s territory and begins feeding there. In the aquarium, the male’s territory often encompasses most or all of the tank, resulting in continuous chasing of females, even when they are not yet sexually mature. A receptive female responds to the male’s courtship displays and follows him to his territory. Spawning usually occurs in the calmest part of the territory, often on a gently sloping surface. Eggs are laid one at a time, immediately taken into the female’s mouth, and fertilized by the male during this process. Eggs are relatively large (approximately 5–7 mm), resulting in small broods of about 6–16 eggs. The female carries the developing fry for around 24–26 days, after which she gradually releases them and guards them for several days. The male plays no role in brood care and often drives the female away immediately after spawning. Unlike many other mouthbrooding cichlids, female Tropheus continue to feed while carrying fry. In some species, females may accept food without swallowing it, with the food consumed only by the fry, whereas in other species females feed normally together with the fry.
Aggression:	Unlike most Haplochromis in Lake Tanganyika, female Tropheus also maintain feeding territories. Male territories are generally one to two times larger than those of females. In the aquarium, limited space usually allows only a few, or even a single, dominant male to hold a territory, from which all other cichlids are chased away. Aggression is strongest toward conspecifics, while other species are typically tolerated to a greater extent. Due to pronounced intraspecific aggression, Tropheus should be kept in larger groups to distribute aggression among more individuals.
Special notes:	Until 1998, this taxon was treated as a geographic form of T. brichardi. In 1998, Ad Konings recognized it as a separate species concept and introduced the name Tropheus sp. 'mpimbwe'. The species has been discussed as possibly having a hybrid origin. One proposed scenario involves T. sp. 'kipili' (or a close ancestor) together with a T. moorii-like lineage comparable to the cross-lake form known as T. sp. 'limespot'. A red-cheek population at Katondo has also been cited as suggestive that ancestry related to T. sp. 'kirschfleck' could be involved in past hybridization. Several named or well-known local variants are mentioned along the distribution: Korongwe Bay (Mwala Hills / Mwaka area) – African Diving reported a form they named "Dahabu Yellow Cheek". In Korongwe Bay there are indications of more recent hybridization between this population and T. sp. 'kipili' from across the bay. Katondo Point – a red-cheek variant occurs here. Shanshete – Konings reported "Yellow Cheek" from this locality, but African Diving stated that the Shanshete fish differ from the Mwala Hills population, with a smaller cheek patch that may be yellowish, orange, or reddish. Kolwe Point – African Diving described a population nicknamed "Caudal Stripe", with a horizontal yellow stripe on the caudal peduncle (about 3–4 mm thick) and a yellow cheek patch. Kemp – a very dark form was reported, with a greyish-white cheek according to African Diving. North of Cape Mpimbwe – additional populations are described as very dark, nearly black. An exceptionally rare color morph, "Golden Kushangaza", is described as a bright yellow aberrant form occurring within the otherwise dark T. sp. 'mpimbwe' populations. The first known specimen was reportedly collected on 11 April 1990 by African Diving diver Yusuph Maridadi, and additional occurrences were later reported from other localities within the species’ range.