Protomelas taeniolatus (Red)

Super Red Empress Cichlid

Max Size:

9.0"

Temperament:

Semi-aggressive

Water Temperature:

78 - 82°F

Diet:

Herbivore

Min. Tank Size:

90 Gal

Description:

The Male Protomelas taeniolatus, Super Red Empress cichlid features a mostly red body with a metallic blue color in it's face, head and running along it's back, covering the front 3/4 of its dorsal fin. Its pelvis and anal fins are also red. The female is like most female Haplochromis in that it is a dull gray color with a black horizontal stripe running along its body and a hint of a red stripe on the edge of its dorsal fin. Males grow to be about 9" and females are typically smaller.

Compatibility:

Red Empress cichlids are mildly aggressive, and can be kept in a tank other Haps, Peacocks or mildly aggressive Mbuna. When spawning, a male will show higher levels of aggression towards other male Red Empress and closely related species. Other compatible species are the Lemon Jake Peacock, the Blue Dolphin, and the Electric Blue Ahli.

Tank Requirements and Feeding:

These fish get fairly big. Male Super Red Empress cichlids can grow to be 9". While a 50 gallon aquarium might be suitable for a small breeding group, the tank really needs to be big enough to provide plenty of space to swim and claim territories. The substrate should be sand or fine gravel and there should be plenty of rocks to create caves and passageways for the fish to claim territories or seek protection. The water should be hard with a temperature between 78-82°F and a pH of 7.8-8.6. Additives like Cichlid Lake Salt and Malawi/Victoria Buffer will condition the aquarium water for African cichlids.

The Protomelas taeniolatus, Super Red Empress cichlid is a herbivore and should be fed foods that are high in vegetable matter. Commercial foods like like cichlid pellets and flakes that are spirulina based make an excellent diet for these fish.

Breeding:

The Super Red Empress cichlid is a sexually dimorphic, meaning that the males display the bright blue and red colors and females remain a silverish-grey color with a black horizontal bar. Males will also grow to be larger than the females.

Super Red Empress cichlids are mouthbrooders which means that the female will carry the eggs and fry in her mouth to protect them after spawning. In a home aquarium it is best to have one male and several females to divide the male's attention up between the females. After spawning, the female will pick up the eggs and carry them in her mouth for three weeks or longer.

These fish will spawn with other closely related Protomelas species. If you do not want hybridization, the Super Red Empress cichlid should not be kept with Taiwan Reef cichlids, Tangerine Tiger cichlids, Ndiwe Blue Fire Hap, or other closely related Haplochromis from Lake Malawi.