Product Details

Bemba Orange Flame Tropheus – Tropheus moorii

The Bemba Orange Flame is a striking Lake Tanganyika cichlid and one of the most recognisable locality forms of Tropheus moorii. Also sold as Tropheus Bemba, Orange Flame Tropheus, Bemba Flame Moorii or Tropheus moorii “Bemba”, this fish is admired for its dark body colour contrasted by a vivid orange to flame-coloured body band. It is a specialist African cichlid for experienced aquarists who can provide a large, mature aquarium, stable hard alkaline water and a carefully managed Tropheus group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Bemba Orange Flame
Other Names: Tropheus Bemba, Orange Flame Tropheus, Bemba Flame Moorii, Bemba Tropheus, Flame Tropheus
Scientific Name: Tropheus moorii
Locality / Strain: Bemba / Orange Flame locality form
Fish Type: Lake Tanganyika Cichlid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Tropheus moorii is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, where different locality forms occur along rocky shorelines in different parts of the lake. The Bemba Orange Flame form is associated with the Bemba locality and should not be mixed casually with other Tropheus variants if maintaining a pure strain is important.

In the wild, Tropheus live around rocky, wave-washed shorelines where they graze algae, aufwuchs and biofilm from stones. These habitats are mineral-rich, highly oxygenated and stable, with hard alkaline water and plenty of rockwork. In the aquarium, they need a similar setup built around rocks, open swimming space and excellent water quality.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Bemba Orange Flame Tropheus have a compact, robust cichlid body with a blunt head, strong mouth and active grazing behaviour. The typical appearance is a dark brown to black body with a bold orange or flame-coloured band across the midsection, although the width and intensity of the band can vary between individuals.

Adults usually reach around 12–15 cm. Males and females can look similar, although mature males may become slightly larger, more dominant and more intensely coloured. Colour depends strongly on mood, hierarchy, diet, water quality and group stability.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to a dedicated Lake Tanganyika cichlid aquarium or a carefully planned specialist African cichlid setup. It needs hard alkaline water, high oxygenation, strong filtration and a rockscape with multiple grazing surfaces and visual barriers.

Bemba Orange Flame Tropheus are not suitable for general tropical community aquariums, soft-water setups or mixed peaceful communities. They are active, territorial and socially complex, and they do best when kept as a properly sized group rather than as single display fish.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 300 litres for a Tropheus group, with a tank length of at least 120–150 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are strongly preferred for long-term stability and aggression management.

Keep in a group of at least 12, with 15 or more preferred where space allows. Tropheus should usually be kept in a larger colony with a careful sex ratio rather than as pairs or trios, as smaller groups often lead to excessive aggression towards weaker fish.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 24–27°C
pH: 7.8–9.0
Hardness: Hard to very hard
Additional Notes: Stable, mineral-rich, alkaline water is essential. Provide strong filtration, excellent oxygenation and regular water changes. Avoid soft acidic water, sudden parameter swings, poor water quality and overfeeding.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Semi-Aggressive

Bemba Orange Flame Tropheus are territorial, active and socially assertive. Aggression is usually best managed by keeping a correctly sized group in a large aquarium with plenty of rockwork and broken lines of sight.

Suitable tank mates, if used, include carefully chosen Lake Tanganyika species that enjoy similar hard alkaline water and will not compete too heavily, such as some Julidochromis, Neolamprologus, Altolamprologus or open-water Tanganyikan cichlids in larger tanks. Avoid mixing with soft-water fish, slow community species, small delicate fish, aggressive Malawi mbuna, large predators and other Tropheus colour forms if strain purity is important.

Feeding:

Bemba Orange Flame Tropheus are specialised grazers. Their diet should be based mainly on vegetable-rich foods such as spirulina flakes, high-quality herbivore cichlid pellets, algae-based wafers and natural aufwuchs or biofilm grazing from rock surfaces.

Small amounts of suitable frozen foods such as cyclops or daphnia may be offered occasionally, but avoid rich meaty foods such as bloodworm, beefheart, high-protein predator pellets and heavy feeding of brineshrimp or krill. A poor diet can contribute to digestive problems and bloat. Feed small amounts several times a day rather than large heavy meals.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

Tropheus are active rock-grazing cichlids that spend much of their time browsing algae and biofilm from hard surfaces. They are highly social but also competitive, with a clear hierarchy developing within the group.

Males may defend territories and display strongly, while females and subordinate fish move through the rockwork and open areas. This species is a maternal mouthbrooder, with females holding eggs and fry in the mouth. In a settled colony, behaviour is lively, colourful and fascinating, but unstable groups can become aggressive very quickly.

Care Notes:

This is a specialist cichlid and should not be bought for a standard community aquarium. Provide a large, mature tank, hard alkaline water, excellent filtration, strong oxygenation and a stable group size.

Avoid sudden diet changes, rich meaty foods, poor water quality and frequent rearranging once the group is settled. New fish should be introduced with care, as established Tropheus colonies can be difficult to add to. Keep locality forms pure and avoid mixing Bemba Orange Flame with other Tropheus moorii variants if breeding is possible.

Recommended For:

Experienced

Availability:

Occasional / Specialist Lake Tanganyika cichlid import or captive-bred locality strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.