Real F1
Appearance: It is characterized by a broad yellow band on a dark body. It differs from the similar "Kaiser II" variant (from the Kiriza location) in that the yellow band on the Ikola variant ends just before the top of the dorsal fin, whereas in Kaiser II, it extends all the way to the edge.
Size: Adults grow up to 14 cm (males) and 12 cm (females).
Habitat (Biotop): It lives in the rocky environments of Lake Tanganyika, primarily between the locations of Ikola and Isonga. This population is naturally isolated by sandy patches and river outlets.
Aquarium: They require at least a 400-liter aquarium (150 cm in length) with fine sand and numerous rocks to serve as hiding places and visual barriers.
Diet: They are herbivores. In nature, they feed on algae (aufwuchs), and in an aquarium, they need high-quality spirulina-based food. It is essential to avoid high-protein food, which causes "bloat."
Behavior and Breeding:
They are highly aggressive, especially toward their own species, so it is recommended to keep them in large groups (15–25 fish).
They are mouthbrooders; the female carries 6 to 16 large eggs in her mouth for approximately 24–26 days. Interestingly, Tropheus females continue to feed even while carrying fry.
Interesting Fact: Due to its popularity, this species has been intentionally or unintentionally (escapes from cages) introduced by humans to several other locations in the lake, where they sometimes form hybrids with local Tropheus species.