General information – Just like its entire genus the Tropheus kalambo

is highly aggressive species. Kalambo is very active fish with

uncompromising nature. These days the kalambo is rather expensive

fish. It has a down turned mouth using to scrape algae from the rocks.

Tropheus kalambo should be kept in groups of at least 12 or more in

order to spread out aggression. With beautiful colors and with its

naughty behavior the kalambo is an interesting cichlid to keep and

to watch.

Common Name – kalambo 

Scientific Name – Tropheus moorii kalambo

Photo by: philip

Origin - Africa, Lake Tanganika 

Size - Up to 15 cm (6 inches 

First discovered - Unknown 

Nutrition - Herbivorous, in nature the kalambo 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 kalambo should be kept in groups in large fish tank. 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 kalambo 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, the male have spots on this fin Female

kalambo can lay up to 20 eggs.