Tropheus moorii Ikola Kaiser African Cichlids
- Low stock - 3 items left
- Inventory on the way
- Live Arrival Guarantee
- All our live fish, shrimp, snails are care with love and passion, when through minimum of 14 days quarantined and shipped from Splashy Fish facility in Springfield, Virginia, USA
This is only apply to live fish order.
What is Our Live Arrival Guarantee?
Benefit from our extensive experience in shipping live fish. In 2021, our records indicated a mere 0.5% dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate for all live fish orders, compared to the industry standard of 1.5%. These numbers translate to only 5 out of 1000 orders experiencing DOA fish.
At Splashy Fish, customer satisfaction is our priority. That's why we provide a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all animals shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Please note - Splashy Fish reserves the right to void Live Arrival Guarantee protection under the following circumstances:
- The customer has chosen USPS First Class Mail as a shipping method.
- The shipping address is a PO Box address
- The order was refused delivery by the customer.
- If the order is returned to the sender for any reason. For instance, an incorrect shipping address, an undeliverable address, etc.
- The order was held for pick up at USPS, UPS, and FedEx offices for longer than 24 hours after the last update on the tracking number.
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not include all the requirements mentioned below
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim is made after the claim period mentioned below.
- The animals are not in their original packaging
Live Arrival Guarantee Claim Period:
For Live Fish and other invertebrates, one and a half hours (1.5 hours) after the posted delivery time.
For Snails: 48 hours after the posted delivery time.
Steps to claim Splashy Fish's Live Arrival Guarantee:
- Take a picture of the shipping box and the shipping label.
- For live fish and other invertebrates: Please provide two pictures of each bag (containing the dead fish) upon arrival. Ensure the images display the bag in its original, unopened condition with the original rubber band intact
- For Snails: Position the snail in one corner of the tank. If the snail does not move within 48 hours, please take several pictures of the snail's opening
- Send an email to DOA@splashyfishstore.com with the subject line: DOA and Your Order Number, or message us on social media.
- In the body of the email, include your tracking number.
- The claim must be sent within the claim period mentioned above.
After submitting the required information, please allow us 1-3 business days to determine the cause of the issue. If the claim is valid and approved by our team, you will
- Receive a store credit for future purchases, excluding the shipping cost, of the dead-on-arrival fish
If the Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not meet all listed requirements, Splashy Fish reserves the right to reject it.
Shipping live animals and plants is a complex process, and temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure delivery of your order.
If the highest daytime temperature in your location and the lowest nighttime temperature here in Springfield, Virginia—where our facility is situated—fall below 40°F or exceed 90°F, we will proactively delay your order. This measure is taken to prioritize the well-being of the animals and plants.
For the safety of our living cargo and to protect your investment, we retain the right to suspend shipping as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Our Splashy Fish team will assess the situation and determine if it is unsuitable to ship, considering the safety of the animals.
To stay informed or address any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated Splashy Fish Support team via email at support@splashyfishstore.com.
Once our team prints and packs your order, we'll notify you via email. This notification will include your tracking number and the expected arrival day. If you opt for UPS 2 Day shipping, your package should arrive within 2 days after shipment. Similarly, if you choose UPS 1 Day, your order will reach you the day after it is shipped. In the case of orders containing only plants or dry goods, they may be shipped via USPS, provided that this is the selected shipping option during checkout.
We ship all of the customer orders from our warehouse located in Springfield, VA. We pack and ship our orders depending on the orders with the exception of someday we cannot ship out live fish.
All Orders: will be shipped out from Monday to Thursday each week for overnight shipping by UPS.
Sunday: (Splashy Day) Today is the day we let our hard-working team members and our fish to destress and ready for the following week's shipment.
For more information regarding about shipping please visit us our Shipping Policy and Schedule
The Tropheus moorii Ikola Kaiser, also known as the Ikola Tropheus or Ikola Kaiser Cichlid, is one of the most striking and sought-after African cichlids. With its bold black body and vibrant golden-yellow band, this Cichlid fish is a living jewel from Lake Tanganyika. A favorite among experienced aquarists, the Tropheus Ikola combines stunning beauty with fascinating social behaviors, making it a prized centerpiece in Tanganyikan aquariums.
Native to the rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika in Africa, the Tropheus moorii species are famous for their vibrant colors, dynamic personalities, and unique herbivorous feeding habits. The Ikola Kaiser variety is especially admired for its dramatic contrast of jet-black and bright yellow, which becomes even more vibrant as the fish mature. These Cichlids are highly social and thrive in groups, making them an excellent choice for aquarists who enjoy active, community-driven tanks.
The Tropheus moorii Ikola typically grows to 4–5 inches (10–12 cm) in length. Their most defining feature is the brilliant yellow “belt” across the midsection, which stands out vividly against their deep black body. Males often show slightly more intense coloration, while females remain equally striking in appearance.
Ikola Tropheus cichlids are active, social, and best kept in colonies of 12 or more individuals to reduce aggression and establish a natural pecking order. While they can be territorial, their aggression is usually spread throughout the group, making them manageable in larger setups. They should be housed in species-only or Tanganyikan community tanks with other robust cichlids that can handle their energy.
At Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Tropheus moorii Ikola Kaiser for sale and other Cichlids for sale are tank-raised, healthy, and carefully selected for vivid coloration and optimal size. Shop online or visit our aquarium store in Virginia to discover high-quality freshwater fish for sale, betta fish for sale, freshwater shrimp for sale, aquatic plants, and essential aquarium supplies.
WHAT MAKES THIS FISH SPECIAL?
- Bold black body with a vibrant golden-yellow mid-band
- Grows to 4–5 inches; ideal showpiece for Tanganyikan aquariums
- Best kept in colonies of 12+ to reduce aggression
- Active, social, and full of personality
- Herbivorous diet, which means they are natural algae grazers in the aquarium
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS
- Tank Size: Minimum 75 gallons for a colony
- Temperature: 74°–80°F (23°–27°C)
- pH: 7.8–9.0 (alkaline, Lake Tanganyika conditions)
- Hardness: 10–20 dGH
- Filtration: Strong, with excellent oxygenation and regular water changes
CARE GUIDELINES
- Diet: Primarily herbivorous. Feed spirulina flakes, algae-based pellets, and blanched vegetables. Avoid protein-heavy foods to prevent digestive issues common to Tropheus species.
- Tank Setup: Provide a rocky aquascape with caves, crevices, and open swimming areas. Strong filtration and high oxygen levels are essential for their health.
- Behavior: Active, social, and territorial. Works best in large colonies where aggression is spread out.
- Tankmates: Best with other Tanganyikan cichlids such as Julidochromis, Cyprichromis, and Synodontis catfish. Avoid mixing with overly aggressive or small, delicate species.
See more detailed information on How to Care for Cichlids here.
