General information – Tropheus chaitika is a beautiful member of the

moorii group. It endemic to lake Tanganika and can be found in rocky

environments throughout chaitika bay. Like the entire moorii group the

chaitika is an aggressive cichlid. In order to spread its aggressiveness it

is recommended to keep it in species tank in group of 12-15 or more

with ratio of one male to 6-7 females. The chaitika is also known as the

blue rainbow due to its blue dorsal fin.      

Common Name - blue rainbow, Kasabae Moorii 

Scientific Name - Tropheus moorii Chaitika 

Family - Cichlidae 

Photo by: philip

Size – Up to 15 cm (6 inches) 

First discovered - Unknown 

Nutrition - Herbivorous, in nature this beautiful cichlid scrape algae from rocks. 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 

Behavior - Aggressive 

Maintenance and care - Tropheus chaitika should be kept in groups in large aquariums. 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 can cause to territorial fights 

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

Breeding - Tropheus chaitika 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 baby brine shrimp or with

crushed flake food.