Scrapermouth Mbuna
Labeotropheus trewavasae
The bizarre 'Aquatic Tapir' of the African Rift (15 cm / 6 inches). A massive, brutally dominant Mbuna featuring a strange, fleshy overhanging 'nose' pad that totally covers its mouth—a masterpiece of evolution designed as a pivot to violently rip tough algae from flat rocks. Boasts incredibly striking colors (sapphire blue males with blazing red/orange fins, and leopard-spotted orange 'OB' females). Demands colossal tanks, rocky walls, and a flawless, totally vegan diet.
Température de l’eau
23 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
7.5 - 8.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
15 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 180 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
GH
10 - 25 dGH
KH
5 - 12 dKH
TDS
200 - 495 ppm
Conductivité
313 - 773 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lake Malawi (Endemic). Compared to fuelleborni, it occupies slightly deeper niches (3-20 meters / 10-65 feet), patrolling the narrow crevices between giant boulders where the waves have less force but the water is clear.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Scrapermouth Mbuna (Labeotropheus trewavasae). Shares with fuelleborni the famous "tapir" snout and the downward-facing mouth, but has a noticeably more tapered, slender and compressed body (ideal for slipping into cracks).
Social Behavior: Extremely lively and aggressive towards conspecifics. Swims keeping itself always oblique to the rocky walls (almost hugging them) to scrape off food. Requires a Harem (1M - 3/4F).
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Highly variable (dozens of local morphs like "Thumbi West", "Chilumba"). Standard males are often metallic blue with a bright red dorsal fin (Red Top). Females are often OB (Orange Blotch, spotted) or brownish.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Deep Malawi Biotope (min. 120 cm / 48 inches). A large rocky chain with narrow slabs positioned almost vertically will simulate their natural environment. Avoid bare furnishings, otherwise the male will kill the submissive females.
Diet and Feeding: Specialized Aufwuchs feeder. Its mouth scrapes the algal film. Absolute vegetarian base: Spirulina-based pellets and flakes and blanched fresh spinach. An animal protein excess is deadly.
Water Quality: Lake water hardness essential. Optimal temperature 25-26°C (77-79°F), Ph 8.0 or higher. Oversized filtration is essential to quickly eliminate organic waste, to which it is very sensitive.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Moderately aggressive Mbuna. Can coexist with Cynotilapia, Labidochromis caeruleus or Iodotropheus. Avoid pairing it with L. fuelleborni (lethal risk of hybridization or ruthless competition) or with flat-snouted species.
Aquarium Breeding: Maternal Mouthbrooder. Circular spawning among the rocks (egg-spot method on the male's anal fin). The female will fast for 3-4 weeks with her mouth full (20-40 fry). Stripping is recommended only for commercial purposes.
Risks and Diseases: Dental sensitivity. The use of cheap synthetic rocks or resins can irreversibly damage their tricuspid or bicuspid teeth used to "file" food, condemning the fish to starvation.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Lake Malawi (Endemic). Compared to fuelleborni, it occupies slightly deeper niches (3-20 meters / 10-65 feet), patrolling the narrow crevices between giant boulders where the waves have less force but the water is clear.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsAfrique et Madagascar
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are incredibly aggressive, active, and territorial. The males will constantly defend their chosen rock pile and chase away intruders. They require a carefully planned environment with plenty of line-of-sight breaks to manage their hostility.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are highly specialized herbivores that scrape aufwuchs (algae and microorganisms) from rocks. In captivity, feed them premium spirulina flakes and herbivore pellets. Avoid all meaty foods like bloodworms or beef heart, which will cause fatal digestive blockages.
- Espérance de vie
- 8-10 years
- Taille adulte
- 15 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Harem
- A harem ratio of one male to at least three to five females is mandatory. The male's mating drive is relentless, and having multiple females prevents any single female from being harassed to death. Multiple males should not be kept unless the tank is over 100 gallons.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is best to feed them small amounts two to three times a day. This mimics their natural continuous grazing behavior in the wild. Avoid dumping large amounts of food at once.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- This species generates a heavy bioload, necessitating a powerful filtration system. Consistent, large weekly water changes are a strict requirement to keep the environment healthy. Over-filtration is highly recommended for Mbuna setups.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- They thrive in areas with strong water currents and high oxygenation. Employing powerheads to simulate the turbulent upper rocky zones of Lake Malawi is ideal. Strong surface movement is essential.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Due to their aggressive chasing behavior, the risk of them jumping out is very high. A heavy, completely secure aquarium lid is absolutely necessary. Ensure there are no large gaps around filter intakes or heaters.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They reproduce via maternal mouthbrooding, with the female incubating eggs in her buccal cavity for 3 to 4 weeks. During this time, the female will not eat and will hide among the rocks. Once released, the fry are fully formed and must be fed crushed spirulina.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- They are intensely aggressive and only suitable for a specialized Lake Malawi Mbuna community tank. They will terrorize peaceful or timid fish and must be housed with equally aggressive species. Controlled overstocking helps mitigate targeted aggression.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They are bottom and mid-level swimmers that stay heavily tied to the rockwork. Their unique fleshy snout allows them to scrape algae while swimming parallel to the rocks. Open water holds no interest for them.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Résilience
- Moyenne (1,4 - 4,4 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5005
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00389, b = 3.12
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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