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Red Top Mbuna

Labeotropheus trewavasae

Freshwater Lake Malawi, Africa Usually captive bred

A specialised rock-dwelling mbuna equipped with a distinct, downturned fleshy snout adapted for scraping algae from stones. Males are robust and territorial; keep one male with several females among extensive rockwork, providing a strictly vegetable-based diet to prevent bloat.

Also called: Redfinned cichlid, Redtop mbuna, Scrapermouth mbuna, Trewavas's cichlid, Yellow tumbi.

11.5 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 11.5 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 240 L, at least 120 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 30 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 3 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 27 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 7.6 to 8.6 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 20, KH 8 to 14 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Aggressive Territorial: strong.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 8 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Some experience helps A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Red Top Mbuna is an herbivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Nothing flagged.

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.