Red Empress

The red empress is the best-known form of the species Protomelas taeniolatus in the hobby; its males have a bright blue head and a body that takes on red-orange tones. In different parts of the lake there are also other local forms of this species dominated by yellow, blue or orange. Females, by contrast, are plain fish with dark horizontal stripes on a silvery background; the species name also refers to this striped pattern.

It is a medium-sized and relatively calm species among the Malawi haps. It belongs in the same aquarium as calm haps and Aulonocara species, not with mbuna.

It lives along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi. It has an unusual way of feeding for a hap: it picks at the loose algae layer on the surface of the rocks and the small organisms within it. The water is hard, alkaline and clear.

• Volume: at least 400 liters and 150 cm in length for a group.
• Layout: Rock groups with wide open sand areas between them.
• Water: Hard and alkaline (pH 7.8–8.5); aragonite substrate or Malawi salt.
• Maintenance: Strong filtration, weekly 30–50% water changes.

Omnivorous. A quality cichlid pellet and a spirulina-based food are given in rotation; frozen mysis and brine shrimp can be added. Plant-based food is important for digestive health. Bloodworms and foods containing mammalian meat can lead to Malawi bloat.

As males mature, they set up territories and can become aggressive toward other males of their own species as well as similarly colored males. Toward other species they are generally measured. In the same aquarium as aggressive mbuna, it comes under pressure.

Good companions: Aulonocara species, Copadichromis borleyi, electric blue ahli, Placidochromis electra, blue dolphin cichlid, Synodontis catfish suited to hard water.

Avoid: aggressive mbuna, large predators, small fish that fit in its mouth, community fish, shrimp and snails.

• Harem: 1 male and 3–4 females.
• All-male aquarium: Often used in colorful aquariums set up with males of different species; two males of the same species will fight.
• Protomelas species can hybridize with each other and with some other haps; a single species should be kept in a harem aquarium.

A mouthbrooder. The male courts on a flat rock surface or on the sand; the female picks up the eggs in her mouth and they are fertilized via the egg spots on the male's anal fin. The female carries 20–50 eggs for about 3 weeks. The fry grow on crushed food and brine shrimp; it can take up to a year for males to reach full color.

• Malawi bloat: wrong food and stress.
• Color fading: a sign of poor water conditions or aggressive tankmates.
• Hole in the head: associated with insufficient water changes and a monotonous diet.

Sexing is easy in mature fish: males have a blue head and a red-orange body, with colorful, long fins; they carry egg spots on the anal fin. Females are silvery gray with dark horizontal stripes. Juveniles resemble females; males color up slowly.