Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Tropheus Duboisi
Tropheus duboisi Marlier, 1959
Also called White-spotted Cichlid, Duboisi, Duboisi Cichlid
From Endemic to the northern part of Lake Tanganyika, living patchily over rocky ground down to about 30 m, in populations such as Maswa, Karilani Island and Kigoma.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Deep-bodied algae-grazing cichlid
A compact, high-backed fish with a short rounded snout; its look changes completely as it grows up.32
Personality what they are like
Peaceful towards other species yet lively and competitive among its own, so it settles best in a sizeable group where squabbles are spread out.3
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active grazer that works over rock surfaces for algae throughout the day.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Needs pristine hard, alkaline water with frequent changes; introduce the whole group at once and do not mix regional forms.3
Home where they are happiest
At least 150 x 45 x 45 cm for a group of 15-20, with rockwork and open water. Temperature about 23-27 C, pH 8.0-9.5, hardness around 8-25 dGH.31
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A vegetable-based diet such as spirulina flakes, blanched spinach and nori, with only small amounts of live or frozen food and no red meats.31
Company who they like around
A group fish, ideally 15-20 together with several females for each male.31
The story where it all began
Georges Marlier described the species in 1959 and named it after Jean Dubois, a limnologist colleague who collected the type specimen. Its spotted youngsters have made it a prized fish among Tanganyika cichlid keepers.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Young fish are black with white or bluish spots, earning the name white-spotted cichlid.3
- 2
As adults the spots fade and a pale or yellow band appears across the body.3
- 3
Mothers carry only about 5-15 eggs in their mouths for more than four weeks.3
- 4
It lives deeper than many relatives, down to around 30 metres.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered (assessed 3 March 2025)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Georges Marlier in 19591
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Tropheus Duboisi. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Tropheus duboisi fishbase.seused for size, distribution, depth, water, IUCN, breeding
- Wikipedia: Tropheus duboisi en.wikipedia.orgused for names, populations, etymology
- Seriously Fish: Tropheus duboisi seriouslyfish.comused for care, tank, diet, colour change, group keeping
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.