White Spotted Duboisi

 

fish description – White Spotted Duboisi Care Guide ($Tropheus\ duboisi$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Tropheus\ duboisi$
Common Name	White Spotted Duboisi, White-Spotted Cichlid, Duboisi Tropheus
Origin	Deep, rocky waters of Lake Tanganyika (Africa)
Adult Size	4–5 inches (10–12 cm)
Temperament	Highly aggressive toward its own kind, semi-territorial, peaceful with most non-cichlid species
Lifespan	10–15 years
Care Level	Advanced (Prone to Malawi Bloat; requires specific $\text{pH}$ and social management)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: Juveniles have a striking jet-black body covered in white or light blue spots. As they mature, the body turns blue-black, the spots vanish, and a broad yellow or white vertical band forms across the midsection.
• Coloration: Juvenile: Black with white spots. Adult: Dark body, blue face/head, and a prominent yellow/white band. Sexing is difficult; males may have a more upturned snout and assume adult color sooner. Venting by an expert is the only reliable method.
• Fins: Proportional fins.
• Behavior: Extremely active and social, but fiercely aggressive toward their own kind (conspecifics) to establish a rigid pecking order. They are constant algae grazers and feed all day long. They are maternal mouthbrooders.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons (450 liters) is the absolute minimum for a colony. 150 gallons or more is highly recommended due to their complex social structure and aggression.
• Schooling: Must be kept in large groups (15–20 individuals) to spread aggression. Keeping smaller groups (2–6) is highly discouraged as it often leads to fighting to the death.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $75^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (stability is vital).
• pH Level: Hard, alkaline water is essential: 8.0 to 9.0. They require very high carbonate hardness ($\text{KH}$ 10–20 $\text{dKH}$) for $\text{pH}$ stability. Pristine water quality (nitrates below 20 $\text{ppm}$) and powerful filtration are crucial due to their dietary sensitivity.
• Aquascape: Requires ample rockwork piled to create multiple territories, caves, and visual barriers, mimicking the rocky littoral zone of the lake. Use a sand substrate. Avoid live plants as they will be eaten or uprooted. Bright lighting is encouraged to promote algae growth on rocks for grazing.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Duboisi Cichlid is a specialized herbivore (algae grazer) that is extremely sensitive to protein.

• Staple Diet: Diet must be low-protein and high-fiber. Use Spirulina-based flakes/pellets or algae wafers as the sole staple food.
• Supplementation: Offer blanched vegetables (spinach, zucchini, nori) occasionally. Never feed live or frozen meaty foods (bloodworms, shrimp, krill) or mammalian meats; excessive protein is the main cause of the deadly Malawi Bloat.
• Schedule: Feed small amounts 2–3 times a day (constant grazing). Avoid large, single feedings.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Extremely sensitive to high protein/fatty foods (causes Malawi Bloat). Highly aggressive toward conspecifics unless kept in a very large group. Will predate on smaller fish.
• Good Tank Mates: Other robust Tanganyikan cichlids that share the same high $\text{pH}$ and herbivorous/algae diet (e.g., Julidochromis, Eretmodus, Synodontis catfish).