{"product_id":"albino-red-empress-protomelas-taeniolatus","title":"Albino Red Empress | Protomelas taeniolatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Albino Red Empress is the famous Red Empress hap in a pale albino coat, males still washing through soft pink, gold and pastel blue as they mature. It is a graceful, relatively mild-mannered open-water cichlid that grows to around 15cm and makes a superb centrepiece for a large Lake Malawi display. Despite its size and colour it is far calmer than the average mbuna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Empress is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it lives in the transitional zone between rocky outcrops and open sandy areas. This is hard, alkaline, mineral-rich water with stable temperatures year-round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe albino form loses the dark pigment of the wild fish, so dominant males glow in pinks, creams, gold and pale blue rather than the usual electric blue and red. Females and juveniles are a plainer silvery-cream. Males develop the taller, more colourful finnage as they mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a Malawi cichlid it is comparatively peaceful, though males are territorial and it should be regarded as semi-aggressive. It is an open-water swimmer that does best kept as one male with several females in a spacious tank alongside similarly-sized, non-hyper-aggressive haps and peacocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that grazes heavily on algae and micro-organisms in the wild, so it needs a high-fibre, vegetable-based staple. Use a quality spirulina or cichlid flake\/pellet as the base and supplement with occasional frozen foods. Avoid a diet dominated by rich, meaty foods, which can cause bloat in this and other Malawi cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a large tank with a mix of rocky structure and open swimming lanes, hard alkaline water and strong, clean filtration. Keeping it in a group with more females than males helps spread aggression and shows off the males' colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. The female collects the fertilised eggs and broods them in her mouth for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Spawning is straightforward given a settled male and receptive females in good, hard water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProtomelas taeniolatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlbino Red Empress\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrica (Lake Malawi, endemic)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to about 15cm (males slightly larger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8-10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (territorial males)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (herbivore-leaning)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.6-8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8-15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge Lake Malawi (hap\/peacock) aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (may dig; use hardy plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther peaceful to moderate haps and peacocks of similar size, such as Aulonocara species, Copadichromis and Sciaenochromis. A more measured choice than mixing with the most aggressive mbuna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighly aggressive mbuna, much larger predatory cichlids, and small community fish that will be outcompeted or eaten. Avoid rich meaty diets that trigger Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232780796195,"sku":null,"price":43.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232780828963,"sku":"AA3550","price":48.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232780861731,"sku":null,"price":53.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-20cm)","offer_id":55351958077731,"sku":null,"price":63.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Albino_Red_Empress_Protomelas_taeniolatus_2c5cacec-999f-42de-9cc5-5b59065a4949.jpg?v=1781446622","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/albino-red-empress-protomelas-taeniolatus","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}