Cichlids · Tropheus

Moorii

Tropheus moorii · Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms)

Photo: Bobby 111 (?), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Moorii (Tropheus moorii) is a freshwater fish from Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms), where it lives in lake habitat. Adults reach about 14.5 cm (5.7 in). Keep it at 23–27 °C (73–81 °F) and pH 8–9.5, with strong, well-oxygenated flow. It is aggressive and does best in a group of 15 or more. Feed mostly vegetables, algae wafers and greens.

At a glance

Water temperature

23–27 °C 73–81 °F

8–9.5 hard, alkaline water

Adult size

14.5 cm 5.7 in

Swims ≈

Mid-water mostly in open water

Keep together

15 or more a shoal feels safe

Current ≈

Strong fast, oxygen-rich water

Food

Greens and algae

Temperament ≈

Aggressive

Moorii

≈

Cichlids · TropheusNT

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Moorii

Tropheus moorii

Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms) · lake

Temperature: 23–27°C
pH: 8–9.5
Adult size: 6 in · 14.5 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Mid-water
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Herbivore
Group: 15+
Status in the wild: Near threatened

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

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savethelittlefish.org/species/moorii/

Photo: Bobby 111 (?), CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, water flow, swim level, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, home range Seriously Fish: Tropheus moorii profile Website
Conservation status, adult size, diet, home range, ph FishBase: Tropheus moorii summary Website Says: pH 8–?
Photo Bobby 111 (?), CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with high flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Keep apart

Aggressive: moorii, it

Auratus Convict cichlid Demasoni Flowerhorn Green terror
Aggressive: moorii, it and will eat the moorii

Dovii
Need a different pH and aggressive: moorii, it

Galaxy vampire L029 Guyana leopard cactus L600

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Moorii get?

About 14.5 cm (5.7 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Moorii need?

23–27 °C (73–81 °F).

What pH does a Moorii need?

pH 8–9.5.

Does a Moorii need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 15.

Is the Moorii aggressive?

Yes. It is aggressive and needs careful planning.

What does a Moorii eat?

Feed mostly vegetables, algae wafers and greens.

Where does the Moorii come from?

Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms).

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	23	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	27	Sourced
pH min	8	Sourced
pH max	9.5	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	14.5	Sourced
Flow	High	Estimate
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	middle	Estimate
Habitat	lake	Sourced
Smallest happy group	15	Sourced
Temperament	Aggressive	Estimate
Diet	Herbivore	Sourced
Behaviour tags	hard_water	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.