Family: Cichlidae
Red Empress — a Cichlidae from Lake Malawi, Africa, assertive but manageable with space and structure. Reaches 8.5–12.4 cm; singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded. 24–26 °C.
A Cichlidae species native to Lake Malawi, Africa: Protomelas taeniolatus lives bottom-dwelling over lakes and slow rivers with structure. Assertive but manageable with space and structure. Adults reach 8.5–12.4 cm. In a community tank it pairs well with Large robust catfish.
Difficulty: moderate. Assertive but manageable with space and structure. Singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded.
Hold 24–26 °C and keep it stable — 24–26 °C recorded range. Heater required for stable tropical warmth.
Full size is 8.5–12.4 cm. Minimum tank: 185 L, with open swimming space along its bottom-dwelling habits.
Accepts all foods; emphasise quality over variety. Vary the menu — quality flakes or pellets plus frozen or live foods.
Assertive but manageable with space and structure; singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded. Good company: Large robust catfish — Ignore the posturing below. Keep away from Small or timid fish — Bullied relentlessly.
Comes from Lake Malawi, Africa: lakes and slow rivers with structure. Expect still to gentle current and moderate.
Not a noted jumper — a standard cover still keeps dust and spray in.
Cave or substrate spawner with prolonged parental care. Often striking; males larger and brighter.