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Cyrtocara Moori - Blue Dolphin



Cyrotocara Moori - Blue Dolphin, Juvenile, Unsexed,
Temperament: Generally Peaceful

Conspecific Temperament: Males can be mildly aggressive
Maximum Size: 9-10"
Place of Origin: Lake Malawi, Lumbaulo and Malombe
Average Adult Fish Size: 6.5 - 8”
Feeding: Ominvore, good flake food with some meaty teats on occasion.

The Blue Dolphin is an unique cichlid that originates from Lake Malawi.  It gets to be large, reaching almost 10 inches (25.4 cm) in length. Its coloring is a beautiful blue with some black markings mixed in depending upon where they originate from. The body is compact and elongated with an elongated snout, and with age it develops a large bump on its head. The gorgeous color and interesting shape make this a wonderful show specimen for a large cichlid aquarium.

Both sexes develop a pronounced hump on its head as it matures. The cranial hump is situated at the front of its body - just above and behind its pointy snout. These features make it look much like a dolphin, though much smaller. It has many different common names such as: Blue Dolphin Cichlid, Malawi Blue Dolphin, Hump-head, Blue Lumphead, Hap moorii, and Humphead Mouthbrooder.

The Blue Dolphin is a more peaceful cichlid overall, but males can be aggressive towards other males of their own kind. They are a polygamous species and it is best to keep one male with at least three females. They are territorial when spawning, but don't maintain a territory outside of breeding. This gentle giant is durable enough to keep with the more mild tempered Malawi cichlids. In a cichlid community tank, Peacock cichlids of the Aulonancara genus and larger mild mannered haps make good tankmates. This fish can also be kept with the Frontosa as well as species of Synodontis catfish. Avoid smaller fish as they will be intimidated by its size.

They are classified as a micro-predator, as they follows close behind substrate-digging cichlids - like Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis, Fossorochromis rostratus, and Mylochromis lateristriga.  Int he wild, they feed on the small edible organisms and particles that get stirred up behind them.

This fish needs large open areas to move around. Sand or a fine gravel such as aragonite are the best choices of substrate as this fish is found in muddy bays and sandy coastal areas. It is known as one of the chisawasawa, or sandy bottom-associated cichlids. It is a sifter, and eats the smaller bits of food left behind after feeding time. They can get startled easy when large and could potentially get injured if the tank is full of rocks.

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