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Heterotaenia hap

Buccochromis heterotaenia

Also known as Striped buccochromis

FreshwaterFish

Heterotaenia hap (Buccochromis heterotaenia)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.6
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
159 gal
600 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi, endemic

Overview

The Heterotaenia hap is a large predator from Lake Malawi that needs a big tank and careful stocking. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The genus name Buccochromis points to the mouth. These big-mouthed open-water predators have jaws that stretch forward and open wide to engulf prey. That lets a fish that looks slender take surprisingly large mouthfuls.

Caring for the Heterotaenia hap

The Heterotaenia hap needs a long tank of at least 159 gal (600 L), the practical minimum for an adult. Give it open swimming room, a sandy floor, and some rock or structure to break sightlines. Strong filtration handles a big, messy predator.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6. Feed meaty foods such as quality carnivore pellets, frozen mysis and krill, and larger frozen or gel foods. Avoid feeder fish.

It hunts in open water and takes any fish small enough to swallow. Keep it only with other large, robust Malawi cichlids that it cannot eat, never with small or slim fish. It can live as one male with several females, or with other big haps, in a very large system.

Males are metallic blue, with a bold yellow stripe running the length of the body. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the brood in her mouth. Breeding is of medium difficulty despite its size.

Good to know

Buccochromis heterotaenia belongs to the cichlid family and is one of Malawi's large hunting haps.

In the wild

Buccochromis heterotaenia is endemic to Lake Malawi. It patrols open water and the sandy, weedy zones between rocks, hunting smaller fish. The lake is hard, alkaline and warm.

Common questions

What size tank does a Heterotaenia hap need?

A Heterotaenia hap needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Heterotaenia hap need?

A Heterotaenia hap is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.

What does a Heterotaenia hap eat?

A Heterotaenia hap is a predator that eats meaty foods. Feed it quality carnivore pellets, frozen mysis and krill, and larger frozen or gel foods, but no feeder fish.

How big does a Heterotaenia hap get?

An adult Heterotaenia hap reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

How can you tell a male Heterotaenia hap from a female?

Males are metallic blue, with a bold yellow stripe running the length of the body.

How does a Heterotaenia hap breed?

A Heterotaenia hap is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the brood in her mouth. Breeding is of medium difficulty despite its size.

Related species