Blue dolphin cichlid care
Cyrtocara moorii · Sandy areas of Lake Malawi, Africa
The blue dolphin cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid, blue all over, that grows a rounded hump on its forehead like a dolphin’s; males are the brighter blue.
- Tank size
- 75 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 75 to 78 °F (24 to 26 °C)
- Group size
- 4 or more
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- pH
- 7.5 to 8.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 10 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8 to 12 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 75 gallon
48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ in outsideHow to keep blue dolphin cichlids
The blue dolphin cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid, blue all over, that grows a rounded hump on its forehead like a dolphin’s; males are the brighter blue. It grows to about 8 in, so keep one male with three or more females in a 75 gallon or larger tank with open sand and hard, alkaline water at 75 to 78 °F, and only other Lake Malawi cichlids. It is calm for a Malawi cichlid except when spawning.
Diet: Omnivore: cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp and mysis. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Blue dolphin cichlid tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Peacock cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 75–82 °F
Yellow lab cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–82 °F
Acei cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 74–82 °F
Rusty cichlid
4.3 in · 40+ gal · 75–79 °F
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with neon tetras.
Cardinal tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with cardinal tetras.
Black neon tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with black neon tetras.
Green neon tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with green neon tetras.
Ember tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with ember tetras.
Glowlight tetra: Blue dolphin cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with glowlight tetras.
What a blue dolphin cichlid tank needs
A tank of 75 US gallons or more (such as the 75 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 300
Rated by the maker for 55–75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon blue dolphin cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Marineland Penguin PRO 375
Rated by the maker for up to 75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon blue dolphin cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 200
Blue dolphin cichlids need 75 to 78 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding blue dolphin cichlids.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 75 to 78 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 75 gallon tank · Heaters for a 75 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common blue dolphin cichlid problems
- Rough mbuna chase it away from the food: calm cichlids of its size, such as peacocks, suit it better.
- Small fish that fit in its mouth are eaten.
- Soft or acidic water shortens its life; it needs hard, alkaline water like the lake’s.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin, adult size and temperature checked against Wikipedia: Cyrtocara moorii. pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Blue dolphin cichlid Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Peacock cichlid Xav84800, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yellow lab cichlid Julian Matz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Acei cichlid Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rusty cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Venustus cichlid Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bumblebee cichlid Nicolas COUTHOUIS, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
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