Saulosi cichlid care
Pseudotropheus saulosi · Taiwan Reef, Lake Malawi, and nowhere else
Saulosi are dwarf mbuna from a single reef in Lake Malawi.
- Tank size
- 40 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 76 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 6 or more
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Adult size
- 3.4 in
- pH
- 7.5 to 8.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 10 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 6 to 10 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 40 gallon breeder
36 3/16 × 18¼ × 16 15/16 in outsideHow to keep saulosi cichlids
Saulosi are dwarf mbuna from a single reef in Lake Malawi. All are born yellow; mature males turn blue with black bars, so a group looks like two species. Keep one male with several females in a 40 gallon or larger tank of hard, alkaline water with plenty of rock caves, and only with other calm Lake Malawi cichlids.
Diet: Herbivore: spirulina and vegetable-based cichlid foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Saulosi 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.
Rusty cichlid
4.3 in · 40+ gal · 75–79 °F
Yellow lab cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–82 °F
Acei cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 74–82 °F
Peacock cichlid
6 in · 55+ gal · 75–82 °F
Electric blue hap
4.5 in · 75+ gal · 76–82 °F
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with neon tetras.
Cardinal tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with cardinal tetras.
Black neon tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with black neon tetras.
Green neon tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with green neon tetras.
Ember tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with ember tetras.
Glowlight tetra: Saulosi cichlids belong with other Lake Malawi cichlids, not with glowlight tetras.
What a saulosi cichlid tank needs
A tank of 40 US gallons or more (such as the 40 gallon breeder) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Fluval U3
Rated by the maker for up to 40 US gal, which covers a 40 gallon saulosi cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Hang-on-back Canister Filter 7W
Rated by the maker for 20–40 US gal, which covers a 40 gallon saulosi cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Precise Aquarium Heater 200W
Saulosi cichlids need 76 to 82 °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 saulosi 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 76 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 40 gallon tank · Heaters for a 40 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 saulosi cichlid problems
- Two blue males in a small tank fight; keep one, or a larger tank with more females.
- Rich, meaty food brings on bloat; feed spirulina or vegetable-based foods.
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 and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Pseudotropheus saulosi. Temperature, 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.
- Saulosi cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rusty cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, 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
- Peacock cichlid Xav84800, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Electric blue hap The Evil Spartan, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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
- Demasoni cichlid lee Nachtigal, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Auratus cichlid Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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