{"product_id":"thaiwan-reef","title":"Thaiwan Reef","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eBiosecurity Shipping Limitations apply\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eShipping Allowed?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 79.3752px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eTasmania\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eNO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eWestern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eNO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eNorthern Territory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eNO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 20.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 20.5938px;\"\u003eAll Other States\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 20.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(107, 183, 31);\"\u003eYES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAbout the Taiwan Reef Cichlid\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTaiwan Reef Cichlid\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eProtomelas\u003c\/em\u003e sp. “Steveni Taiwan”) is a spectacular \u003cstrong\u003eLake Malawi haplochromine cichlid\u003c\/strong\u003e named after Taiwan Reef, a rocky reef locality in Lake Malawi—not Taiwan the country. It is an undescribed \u003cem\u003eProtomelas\u003c\/em\u003e form and is commonly traded under names including \u003cstrong\u003eSteveni Taiwan\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eTaiwan Reef\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature males are particularly impressive, developing a \u003cstrong\u003emetallic blue head and body with vivid yellow-orange and red coloration\u003c\/strong\u003e, especially through the dorsal and anal fins. Females are considerably more subdued, often displaying a silvery body with darker barring. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an active, moderately territorial Malawi hap that benefits from a spacious aquarium with \u003cstrong\u003erockwork, open swimming areas and hard, alkaline water\u003c\/strong\u003e. Males become particularly territorial when displaying or breeding, so providing multiple territories and maintaining a suitable female-to-male ratio is important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Taiwan Reef Cichlid is a \u003cstrong\u003ematernal mouthbrooder\u003c\/strong\u003e, with females carrying eggs and developing fry in their mouths. Keeping one male with several females is generally the best approach. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuick Care Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eProtomelas\u003c\/em\u003e sp. “Steveni Taiwan”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Taiwan Reef Cichlid, Taiwan Reef Hap, Steveni Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cichlidae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lake Malawi Hap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 15–18 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Semi-aggressive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intermediate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Aquarium:\u003c\/strong\u003e 350–400 L+\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24–28°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003epH:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.8–8.6\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Hardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hard, alkaline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Omnivore\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Middle to bottom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGroup Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 male with 3–5 females\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lake Malawi, Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBreeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maternal mouthbrooder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does a Taiwan Reef Cichlid get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdults generally reach around \u003cstrong\u003e15–18 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, with males growing larger than females.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre Taiwan Reef Cichlids aggressive?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are \u003cstrong\u003esemi-aggressive\u003c\/strong\u003e. Males can become territorial, particularly when establishing breeding territories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat should I feed a Taiwan Reef Cichlid?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed a quality \u003cstrong\u003eLake Malawi cichlid pellet\u003c\/strong\u003e as the staple diet, supplemented with suitable frozen or prepared foods. Avoid excessive amounts of heavy, inappropriate foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan Taiwan Reef Cichlids live with Peacock Cichlids?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, they can work well with suitably sized \u003cstrong\u003ePeacocks and other compatible Malawi Haps\u003c\/strong\u003e, provided the aquarium is large enough and tank mates have similar temperaments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many should I keep?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003esingle male with several females\u003c\/strong\u003e is recommended. Keeping multiple males requires a considerably larger aquarium with enough territories to reduce conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy isn't my male showing strong colours?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMale colouration can be affected by \u003cstrong\u003eage, dominance, stress and the presence of females\u003c\/strong\u003e. Mature dominant males typically display their strongest colours when settled and ready to breed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Mistakes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Keeping multiple males in a small aquarium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Using soft or acidic water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Keeping them with tiny fish that may be bullied\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Overcrowding the aquarium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Providing inadequate filtration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e❌ Expecting juvenile males to immediately display adult colouration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Apex Aquatic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49302027665547,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/8353\/3195\/files\/K9GaA7ybtOCfQ0_BpzMos3ehApT5iN42nHfseq-H7UQOqCtAzNgsoZbeMCBgdZF8AJoskp5RgKVxMdUD9lwAf81tl0sYmiGchBO3dsK7Q9gfbtPvve1g1KkwQLjHz3qf3K24gwxwXGARWbp7mDGWjydllNVTPzjryrEE23Htd8MsKjhWQOAMyhO.jpg?v=1788404667","url":"https:\/\/apexaquatic.com.au\/products\/thaiwan-reef","provider":"Apex Aquatic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}