tropheus dubosi

**domjd05** · 03-26-2009, 08:21 PM

excuse the spelling, haha, but I was wondering what one of these might cost if they were around 2 and a half inches or so?

**kaybee** · 03-26-2009, 10:57 PM

Tropheus duboisi are actually african cichlids (orginating from Lake Tanganyika), and aren't South American.

I've yet to see an inexpensive tropheus (duboisi or otherwise) in an LFS (1.5"-2" specimens typically go for $25-35 in my area, which makes creating a colony extremely challenging).

I'd imagine a 2.5" t. duboisi may go for $30-45, give or take. From fellow hobbyists you may find them at $10-15 each.

(I kinda lucked out with the one I have, got it for free).

**Red** · 03-26-2009, 10:58 PM

Kaybee whats the max size on these? I see them at petsmart all the time..

**kaybee** · 03-26-2009, 11:09 PM

4" or 5".

Are the one's you've seen at Petsmart polka-dotted juvies or matured, 'banded' ones?

**Red** · 03-26-2009, 11:13 PM

little polka-dotts ones, they get to mean for a tank with shellies and calvus?

**kaybee** · 03-26-2009, 11:20 PM

Their aggression is largely conspecific in nature, so they tend to get along fine with other cichlids. If keeping multiple tropheus, however, they need to be kept in groups of perhaps a dozen or more minimum (which is why multiple tropheus are kept in species or colony tanks).

A single one should do fine. The only problem keeping them with other tanganyikans is that tropheus are strict vegaterians and can be bloat prone if feed other than veggie-based flakes or pellets. It will be challenging to keep them with other lake tangs (diet-wise, since calvus are carnivores) unless a high quality low-protein content food is provided to all (such as NLS).

**Red** · 03-26-2009, 11:28 PM

Oh ok, thanks, and I sent you a pm by the way!

**domjd05** · 03-27-2009, 11:11 AM

the one I am looking at is polka dotted and banded, my LFS wants $35 for it, I offered my 10g tank and stand w/hood that I haven't used in a year... think he'll take the bait?

**Brookfish** · 03-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by domjd05

the one I am looking at is polka dotted and banded, my LFS wants $35 for it, I offered my 10g tank and stand w/hood that I haven't used in a year... think he'll take the bait?

Nothing beats a try, wait and see what he says!

**kaybee** · 03-29-2009, 09:48 PM

I went to a new LFS today, they had three 2"-2.5" tropheus duboisi selling for $19.99 each (in the same enclosure were tiny 2" burundi frontosa's @ $29.99). Two of the duboisi's were polka-dotted, the last one had the matured banded scheme, even though they were all about the same size.

I'm not sure why tropheus are so expensive, they're as prolific as most other african cichlids.

$60 for three 2 inch fish seems nigh-insane. And as I previously mentioned, these fish need to be kept in colonies of 10-15 if not more for their own 'safety'.