The poor man's tropheus (Neetroplus nematopus) is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae.

[3] In 2016 it was restored to the genus Neetroplus based on genetic research by Říčan, et al.[4] Its name comes from having similar diet, behavior, and body shape to the tropheus.

Like most Central American cichlids the species is commonly found in hard, alkaline (pH 7.5) water.

Its diet consists of algae and plant material which it scrapes from rocks and other hard surfaces in a fashion similar to algal grazing cichlids of Lake Malawi in Africa.

[6] Like all cichlids, brood care is highly developed with both parents involved in fry raising.