Tank for Tropheus specimen
Assuming we have sufficient room at our disposal we choose for a really large tank. Of course it is a matter of place and possibilities whether it has to be as big as the aquarium showed here of 300 X 60 X 55 centimeters. Specially a hulking great thing of an aquarium soon degenerates into an obstacle for many inmates. A large aquarium floor is of interest. Tropheus specimen are fishes that mostly live on or near the bottom so a large floor gives the animals the opportunity to concur an own territory. That is important with reference to the aggressive character of nearly all specimen already mentioned. This goes less for the height unless one wants to accommodate besides a large group of Tropheus some other fishes more in the aquarium. The Tanganjika Killie, Lamprichthys tanganicanus, that mainly stays near the surface would be a good choice.
Also the attitude of all the members of the family plays a significant role. An aquarium accepted by every one usually stays much longer a delightful enrichment of the housing conditions.

Tropheus specimen are marked herbivore fishes. Plant eating animals also that scrape out their living by scraping off the available algae from the rock.

The above inset shows,strongly enlarged, the surface of one of the stones. The scraping marks in pairs of the spatula formed biscupide teeth are to be seen clearly. Of course it matters very much to the owner to grow a carpet with algae on the stones as far as possible and to maintain it. With the presence of a flock of "aquatic goats" this is no picnic but it is not beyond the bounds of the possible, as I am told sometimes. Read more about it on the next page.