Four-spot otopharynx
Otopharynx tetrastigma
Also known as Tetrastigma hap
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal (300 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Lake Malawi and satellite waters
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Otopharynx tetrastigma is an easygoing sifting hap that snuffles through sand for invertebrates and largely leaves plants alone, which makes it one of the few Malawi cichlids that suits a lightly planted setup. Keep one male with two or more females over a soft sand bed. It mixes well with other calm haps and peacocks. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods, and give it sand fine enough to actually take into its mouth.
In the wild
Otopharynx tetrastigma lives in sheltered weedy bays of Lake Malawi and in the satellite lakes and rivers around it, over sand among vegetation rather than out on open shelves. Keep it at 24 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 7.5 to 8.5 in hard alkaline water, with sand, some plant cover and quiet flow.
Good to know
Otopharynx tetrastigma reaches about 16 centimeters and is named for its four dark blotches, one more than the genus usually carries, spaced along the flank. Males develop blue over the head and a yellow-orange wash through the fins when in condition. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and spawns readily for a hap.
Did you know
In a lake that files fish by three spots, tetrastigma shows up with four, an off-by-one the namers immortalized.
Tank mates
Four-spot otopharynx is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Kaligono
Nimbochromis polystigmaFreshwater10.2 in (26 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Azureus
Copadichromis azureusFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)Atripinnis hap
Copadichromis atripinnisFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Gertrude's peacock
Aulonocara gertrudaeFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Günther's peacock
Aulonocara guentheriFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Painted ctenopharynx
Ctenopharynx pictusFreshwater4.9 in (12.5 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Four-spot otopharynx need?
A Four-spot otopharynx needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Four-spot otopharynx need?
Four-spot otopharynx are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Four-spot otopharynx get?
An adult Four-spot otopharynx reaches about 6.3 in (16 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 Four-spot otopharynx?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Four-spot otopharynx fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this species on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related species
Sulphur-head hap
Otopharynx lithobatesFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Heterodon hap
Otopharynx heterodonFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Cave otopharynx
Otopharynx antronFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Altifrons cichlid
Cribroheros altifronsFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Altus lethrinops
Lethrinops altusFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Intermedius sand hap
Tramitichromis intermediusFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)