September Fish of the month!

First topic message reminder :

Cyrtocara moorii 'Blue Dolphin'

*Other common names: Dolphin Cichlid, Hap moorii

*Scientific Name: Cyrtocara moorii, Formally Haplochromis moorii Family- Cichlidae

*Size: Maximum of 8 inches (20 cm.)

*Natural Habitat: Widely distributed in Lake Malawi (although not common). The C. moorii were first imported in 1968. Classified as a micro-predator; in the wild, C. moorii has a unique feeding adaptation, it follows close behind substrate-digging cichlids such as Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis, Fossorochromis rostratus, and Mylochromis lateristriga looking for clouds of sand and detritus then feeding on the small edible organisms and particles that get stirred up behind them as they feed.

*Description: Often known in the hobby as the Malawi Blue Dolphin. The nickname Blue Dolphin originates from the shape of its head; which includes a back head hump and bill like mouth that resembles that one of a dolphin.

*Recommended Tank Size and Temperament: in general peaceful but very territorial. They should be kept in no less then a 55 gallon tank.

*Water Parameters: Temperature: 75°F - 81°F, pH, 7.2 - 8.6

*Typical food: Primarily a carnivore, although either gut loaded meaty foods (such as worms fed with a vegetable or Spirulina Flake and/or Frozen Brine Shrimp or similar that is "enhanced" with Spirulina such as Ocean Nutrition's version are recommended.

In the wild Moorii follow fish that dig in the substrate often stirring up foods such as crustaceans that the Moorii then feed upon.

*Breeding: not easy but can be done, maternal mouth brooder

More Info.






Both the male and female Blue Moorii will develop a pronounced bump on their head, thus the common name 'Hump-head'!
The Blue Moorii comes from Lake Malawi in Africa. It gets to be rather large, up to 10 inches (25.4 cm), and has an overall blue coloring. Besides developing a lump on its head as an adult, it also has a rather elongated snout, so is also commonly known as the Malawi Blue Dolphin and the Hump-head.
This is a more peaceful fish, but durable enough to keep with the more aggressive and generally smaller mbuna species that are also from Lake Malawi. Like all cichlids, the Blue Moorii is territorial. They have a "harem polygyny" nature, where males maintain a territory with several females, so it is best to keep one male with at least three females. It likes an aquarium with a sandy bottom, some rocks with caves for hiding places, and lots of open swimming space. They will burrow but will not harm plants.

Very nice pics!

Here are a few of my sub adult moorii, starting to get frisky...

Those look awesome for sub adults!

If i had a bigger tank i would want some.

MIKEJ0226 wrote:

These are cool fish. Not very common here in Phoenix. I only know of about 4-5 people who have them.

being that i am actually from az (currently stuck in the hell that is oklahoma i know about cichlids not being to prominant). however with that said i am from teh sierra vista ft huachuca area originally and most of the peeps i know did saltwater (which is what i have always been into except for i use to do angel fish, neon tetras, and fancy tail guppies). last i heard thoug hwas the one shop that had saltwater fish in sierra vista stopped carrying the stuff and people were having to go into tuscon for their stuff.


oh how i wish i had the cash to go back to az (sierra vista) and open myself up a saltwater aquarum shop