Trying to give information on this genus is very difficult. The reason is that there are so many of them and they don't all act the same. I will try to explain why this is and how the different complexes behave. Pseudotropheus was first described by Regan in 1922. The type species (first one) was Ps. williamsi. However other mbuna where discovered with the same dentition and where included in this genus since that usually is the determining factor with the mbuna group. Then in 1983 Ribbink started sorting out this genus into complexes. Then Stauffer in 1997 got one of the complexes raised to generic status ( its own genus). What used to be know as the Ps. zebra complex now is known as Maylandia. Ribbink came up with the following complexes but be prepared for some to be raised to full generic status in the future.
The first complex is know as Pseudotropheus sensu stricto which means in the exact sense, since this is the complex that contains the type species. In the aquarium these fish are rarely seen since only occasional imports occur. They are less aggressive than most mbuna, though males can be territorial amongst themselves.
The next complex is known as Pseudotropheus tropheops. This is probably the next complex to be given generic status. This complex can be distinguished by a greater body depth in relation to body length. Males are territorial so a large aquarium is needed especially if you want to keep multiple males. The interesting thing about this though, in the wild males can be territorial during certain times and at other times they can be seen searching for food together. Don't count on this in your aquarium.
I would like to group the other complexes together in this article. They are the Elongatus complex, the Aggressive complex and finally the Miscellaneous complex. (No I did not make that up.) As for the first two these fish are very quarrelsome amongst themselves and the aggressive group are just downright aggressive to the point that the algae in their territorys is so untouched that it grows into miniature forests. I would recommend doing your own research on each individual species before purchasing one since these groups consists of so many different species.
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