Blue utaka
Copadichromis cyaneus
Also known as Cyaneus hap
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 7.5 in
- 19 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
The blue utaka is an active cichlid from Lake Malawi that needs a large, long tank. It is best with a little experience.
Caring for the blue utaka
Keep blue utakas in a group of six or more, best as one male with several females. A long, tall tank of at least 79 gal (300 L) gives these active swimmers open swimming lanes. Add some rock structure for the males to hold near, with plenty of clear water to swim in.
Keep the water hard and alkaline at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C), with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Run strong filtration and good current. Feed small foods often, the way plankton drifts in. Offer quality flake and small pellets with frozen cyclops, daphnia and mysis.
The blue utaka is only mildly aggressive for a Malawi cichlid. It mixes well with peacocks, other calm haps and similar-sized company.
Dominant males turn a deep glassy blue with white fin edges. The species is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Copadichromis cyaneus belongs to the cichlid family. Utaka is the local name for these Copadichromis, which school and eat plankton.
In the wild
Copadichromis cyaneus lives in Lake Malawi, hanging in the open water over deep rock and picking drifting zooplankton from the current. The lake is hard, alkaline and warm.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The blue utaka is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Common questions
What size tank does a blue utaka need?
A blue utaka needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a blue utaka need?
A blue utaka is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a blue utaka eat?
A blue utaka eats small foods offered often, the way plankton drifts in. Give it quality flake and small pellets with frozen cyclops, daphnia and mysis.
How big does a blue utaka get?
An adult blue utaka reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).
How can you tell a male blue utaka from a female?
Males turn a deep glassy blue with white fin edges once they are dominant.
How does a blue utaka breed?
A blue utaka is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth, and breeding is moderately difficult.
Related species
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