fish · Cichlidae
Rusty cichlid
Iodotropheus sprengerae
Wild range: South-eastern arm of Lake Malawi, around Boadzulu, Chinyankwazi and Chinyamwezi islands and Makokola Reef (Seriously Fish; FishBase; Aquarist Atlas). (Africa)
At a glance: Rusty cichlid care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Rusty cichlid?
The compiled profile lists 24.0–28.0 °C for Rusty cichlid (Iodotropheus sprengerae). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Rusty cichlid?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 40.0 US gallons (151.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Rusty cichlid?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 7.5–8.5. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
A small rock-dwelling Lake Malawi cichlid (mbuna). Juveniles and females are rusty brown, and mature males take on a lavender-purple sheen. It is one of the smallest and least aggressive mbuna and a common first choice for a Malawi rock tank, but it still needs hard, alkaline water and Malawi tankmates rather than a soft-water community.
Where they are found
Iodotropheus sprengerae Oliver & Loiselle, 1972 is valid in ITIS (TSN 649128) and Catalog of Fishes, and is the trade name. Synonyms: Iodochromis sprengeri (an unavailable/junior name used before the 1972 description), Iodochromis sprengerae, and Iodotropheus declivitas Stauffer, 1994, which Konings synonymised in 1995; Seriously Fish notes some experts still dispute that. Endemic to Lake Malawi, known only from Boadzulu, Chinyankwazi and Chinyamwezi islands and Makokola Reef in the south-east of the lake (Seriously Fish; FishBase; Aquarist Atlas). FishBase gives a wild maximum of 10.8 cm SL. IUCN: Near Threatened (2018 assessment, per FishBase and Wikipedia), because of its very small range.
Aquarium care
Keep one male with three or four females in at least a 40 US gal (about 150 L) tank with a wide footprint, and use a tank of 120 cm / 48 in or more for several males or mixed mbuna (Atlarium; Aquarist Atlas; fishstores.org; AquaInfo; Seriously Fish). Build rock piles with plenty of caves over sand, and use hardy plants such as Anubias or Vallisneria only if wanted. Water 24–28°C, pH 7.5–8.5 and 10–25 dGH, well buffered; acidic or soft water will not suit it (Seriously Fish; TankBud; Atlarium; AquaInfo; Scape Eden). Use strong filtration and regular partial water changes, since Rift Lake cichlids need very clean water (Seriously Fish; Atlarium).
Feeding
Grazes algae (aufwuchs) off rocks in the wild. Feed mainly vegetable foods such as spirulina flake or pellets and blanched greens, with small live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and Daphnia only as an occasional extra. Avoid rich, meaty foods such as bloodworm or beefheart, which can cause bloat in mbuna (Seriously Fish; TankBud; Atlarium; fishstores.org).
Compatibility
One of the mildest mbuna, so it is easily outcompeted by large or boisterous Malawi cichlids. Good tankmates are other calm Malawi fish such as Labidochromis caeruleus, Aulonocara, Protomelas or Copadichromis species. Males are territorial towards each other, so keep more females than males. Not suitable with soft-water community fish (Seriously Fish; AquaInfo; Atlarium; TankBud).
Breeding
Easily bred and can mature at about 4 cm. Males are usually larger and more colourful, with more egg spots on the anal fin. Use a species tank with several females per male, flat stones and open sand; a 120 cm / 48 in tank suits two or three males with about a dozen females. Avoid moving a holding female if possible, as stress can make her spit or eat the brood. The fry are large enough for brine shrimp nauplii or crushed flake when released (Seriously Fish; TankBud).
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.