Anagenys hap
Exochochromis anagenys
Also known as Malawi torpedo hap, Three-spot torpedo
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in (25 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 159 gal (600 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
This is a large, fast open-water predator from Lake Malawi that cruises the middle of the tank and hunts smaller fish. It is not a group fish, so keep one specimen rather than several, and give it a lot of room. It is aggressive and predatory, so its tankmates should be other large, robust Malawi cichlids that are too big to be eaten and can handle a bold neighbor; choose them with caution and skip anything small enough to swallow. Feed meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, and quality cichlid pellets, and do not rely on live feeders. Because it grows big and swims hard, give it at least 600 liters with long, open swimming lanes.
In the wild
It lives in Lake Malawi, ranging over open water above mixed rock and sand rather than hiding in the rocks. Give it the standard rift-lake setup: hard, alkaline water around pH 7.5 to 8.5 and a temperature of 24 to 27 C. What matters most is uninterrupted swimming length and a sandy floor with some rock structure at the edges, leaving the middle of the tank clear for a fish that runs down its prey.
Good to know
This member of the cichlid family reaches around 25 cm and is the only species in its genus, Exochochromis. It is a streamlined, torpedo-shaped hunter, known in the hobby as the three-spot torpedo for the row of dark blotches along its side. Like other Malawi haps it is a maternal mouthbrooder, and it is considered difficult to breed.
Did you know
The common name three-spot torpedo fits its lifestyle exactly. Its slim, muscular shape lets it accelerate hard across open water to catch small fish, making it a rare pursuit hunter among the mostly rock-bound cichlids of Lake Malawi.
Common questions
What size tank does an Anagenys hap need?
An Anagenys hap needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Anagenys hap need?
Anagenys hap are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Anagenys hap get?
An adult Anagenys hap reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Anagenys hap?
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Related species
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