General information - With its beautiful colors and with its naughty

behavior the Red Kachese is one of the most desired tropheus

species all over the world. Like its entire genus the Red Kachese

must be kept in large groups in the tank in order to disperse its

natural aggressions. The Red Kachese is endemic species to lake

Tanganyika, in its natural habitat the Red Kachese founds in

Shallow Precipitous Rocky environments.  

Common Name - Red Kachese

Scientific Name - Tropheus sp. Red Kachese

Family – Cichlidae

Origin - Lake Tanganyika, Africa 

Size - 12-15 cm

First discovered - Unknown

Nutrition - herbivores, the Red Kachese like its entire genus is an algae grazer, in nature they also

feed on small invertebrates found on rocks and among the algae. Many foods that are good for most

Cichlids can be lethal for the Red Kachese. They should be fed with veggie based foods. In captivity

it requires a varied diet, quality veggie flakes should be supplemented with fresh and frozen green food.

It can feed with "light" frozen foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia 1-2 times a week but feeding it on

a daily basis or with rich protein foods such as bloodworms can lead to Malawi bloat or to internal

parasites. Feeding the Red Kachese with nori algae should enhance its natural colors.  

Behavior - Aggressive

Maintenance and care - Red Kachese should be kept in a group of at least 15 in a 90 gallon/350 liter

aquarium or bigger. The aquarium should be decorated with lot of rocks that creates a lot of hiding

places but also requires plenty of room to swim. The tank can be decorated with only few rocks that

placed randomly in the tank. To be accurate the tank can be decorated with heavy rock formation or

with 3-4 rocks but poor rock formation will lead to territorial fights. In nature, the Red Kachese found in

rocky environments, in its natural habitat the water is rich in oxygen and its fish tank should therefore

have vigorous water movements. Good filtration system is also essential to this magnificent cichlid.     

Water Parameters - Temperature: 24C-27C, PH: 8-9, dGH: 8-20   

Breeding - Tropheus Red Kachese is mouthbrooders. The female will take the unfertilized eggs in her

mouth; eggs will be fertilized after the male release his milt into her mouth. This process occurs when

the female follow the male very close to his anal fin.  Fry can be feed with brine shrimps or with

crushed flake foods.