{"product_id":"red-empress-protomelas-taeniolatus","title":"Red Empress | Protomelas taeniolatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Empress is one of the most beautiful haps you can keep — a dominant male flows through red, gold, green and blue along a body around 15cm long, with metallic sheen shifting as he turns. Relatively peaceful for a Malawi cichlid and hardy once the water chemistry is right, it's a superb centrepiece for a Rift Lake community. Females and young males are a plainer silver with faint stripes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Empress comes from the rocky and intermediate shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa, living over sand and rubble in hard, alkaline water. It ranges widely along the lake, feeding among rocks and open water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature males are spectacular, glowing red-orange through the flanks and fins with blue and green iridescence over the head and body. Females and immature fish are silvery with a couple of faint horizontal bands. Males reach around 15cm and are noticeably larger and more colourful than females.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMild-mannered by Malawi standards — a peaceful, open-swimming hap that gets along with similarly sized, non-aggressive cichlids. Males become territorial when breeding, so give plenty of space and keep one male with several females to spread his attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that leans herbivorous, grazing algae and micro-organisms in the wild. Feed a good-quality spirulina or vegetable-based cichlid pellet or flake as the staple, with occasional frozen mysis or brine shrimp. Avoid excessive protein, which can cause Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a large tank with sand, rockwork and open swimming space. Maintain hard, alkaline Rift Lake water with strong filtration and regular water changes. Hardy and rewarding once the water is stable and correctly buffered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming young. A dominant, well-coloured male and a group of females in a spacious tank give the best chance of spawning.\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\u003eRed Empress\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 15cm (males larger than females)\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\u003eMild (semi-aggressive when breeding)\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\u003e350 litres or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (mainly herbivorous)\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\u003e7.8–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate keepers with a Malawi hap\/peacock community\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 nibble soft plants and disturb them while digging\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther peaceful Malawi haps and peacocks of similar size, such as Aulonocara species, Copadichromis and Placidochromis, plus Synodontis catfish. Keep in a harem of one male to several females.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAggressive mbuna, much larger predatory cichlids, and soft-water community fish that can't tolerate hard, alkaline Rift Lake conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232778273059,"sku":"AA3095-S","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232778305827,"sku":"AA3095","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232778338595,"sku":"AA3095-L","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/red-empress-protomelas-taeni-43879197278499.webp?v=1790305552","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-empress-protomelas-taeniolatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}