[tom_patriot]

Do Tropheus need a flat surface to spawn on or will they spawn on gravel or most anywhere?

 

[DocAl]

Tropheus will spawn on the tank bottom, gravel, a flat rock or a slanted flat rock. My Kalambo colony had a dominant male that preferred a slightly tilted flat rock, a slate roofing tile. This act may be male specific, with different males preferring different substrates but I never really paid attention as to preferences.

 

[Xenomorph]

They usually pick a place, dominant males that is, and females join them. It can be in a corner of a tank, under some rocks, or on a flattened surface. The dominant males will pick up their spots and interested females will join them.

 

[Mr Mbuna]

My Ikola male uses a small cave under some rocks and will clear sand there down to the glass before enticing his ladies in for lurve. I am thinking of adding a flat stone for him.

 

[geoff_tropheus]

It is bizzarre what areas they may pick, I have seen either a flat piece, slanted piece, bar bottom glass, and even a vertical rock face.

It is wherever the male can best secure a area really. I have seen them do it in caves as well, and even make pits.

The male picks the spot.

 

[24Tropheus]

They will even spawn on the glass walls (if thats all the male of the females choice can secure) or on the glass bottom in tanks with no substrate. I think the females prefer a male that can secure a flat level rock though, if there is one.