Ericotaenia hap
Mylochromis ericotaenia
Also known as Haplochromis ericotaenia
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 8.1 in (20.5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal (450 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
This is a medium-large Malawi hap that works the sand, and it is kept as a single fish or one male with a few females rather than a mixed group of males. It patrols the lower water, digging and snuffling through the sand for small invertebrates. It is fairly peaceful for its size but still a big cichlid, so be selective about tankmates: robust Malawi haps and open-water species, and give it room. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis and brine shrimp that reach the floor. A single fish or a small harem needs a tank of at least 450 liters with open sand and some rock.
In the wild
Mylochromis ericotaenia lives over sandy and mixed sand-and-rock areas of Lake Malawi, cruising the floor in search of buried food. Recreate that with a broad sand bed it can dig in, some rock structure for cover, and open swimming space. Keep the water hard and alkaline like the lake, around 24 to 27 C at a pH from 7.5 to 8.5, with strong filtration and stable chemistry.
Good to know
A cichlid of the family Cichlidae, this Malawi hap reaches about 20.5 centimeters and is a maternal mouthbrooder like others of its kind, the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth. Getting a compatible pair to spawn and rear young in captivity is hard for a fish this size. It wears the badge of its genus Mylochromis, a bold oblique stripe running diagonally from the nape toward the tail.
Did you know
The whole genus Mylochromis signs itself the same way: a single diagonal stripe slanting across the body, one of the simplest and most consistent field marks among Malawi's many look-alike cichlids.
Common questions
What size tank does an Ericotaenia hap need?
An Ericotaenia hap needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Ericotaenia hap need?
Ericotaenia hap are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Ericotaenia hap get?
An adult Ericotaenia hap reaches about 8.1 in (20.5 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
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