Red Empress Cichlid Care Guide

Red Empress Cichlid (Protomelas taeniolatus) is an intermediate-level freshwater fish that needs at least 75 gallons and 76-82°F. A Lake Malawi haplochromine whose male turns orange-red over a blue-grey body. It is calmer than mbuna but males squabble, so keep a single male with several females in a roomy tank with hard, alkaline water.

Care facts at a glance

Quick tips

• Keep one male with several females.
• Provide rocks plus open swimming space.
• Use hard, alkaline water and regular water changes.

San Diego water

Naturally suited to San Diego's hard, alkaline tap water once it is dechlorinated (the city uses chloramine, so use a conditioner that handles it). Learn the numbers in our San Diego tap water guide.

Before you buy

Make sure your tank is cycled (how to cycle a tank), check your numbers with the water testing guide, and use the compatibility guide to check tankmates. These are general ranges; individual fish and local water vary.