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Electric blue hap
Sciaenochromis fryeri
20 cm
Adult size
400 L
Minimum volume
4
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Sciaenochromis
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- harem
In the wild
Overview
This electric-blue haplochromine was long imported and described as Sciaenochromis ahli, a name still widely used in the literature. There are many forms, all with blue males, differing in fin colour; they should not be mixed, as they hybridise.
- Scientific name
- Sciaenochromis fryeri Konings, 1993
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi (Malawi, Tanzania), widespread but uncommon
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives on rocky shores and in the intermediate sandy zones that extend them, where it hunts small fish.
Behaviour
Not very aggressive but robust, it should not live with mbuna. It suits Nimbochromis venustus, Cyrtocara moorii, Protomelas and Copadichromis, even Aulonocara with care. Avoid fish of the same colour. Several females per male and a single male unless the tank is very large. A predator: varied live, frozen and dry foods, with no need for plant matter; never meat.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth