Fusco hap
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus
Also known as Spothead hap
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 74 gal
- 280 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
This is an aggressive, predatory cichlid, so it needs a large tank around 280 liters or more with open swimming room and some rock shelter. It hunts near the bottom but uses the middle water too. Do not keep it with small fish, since they read as food. Feed quality pellets and frozen foods like shrimp or fish-based items, and skip live feeders. Tankmates should be other large, sturdy Malawi cichlids.
In the wild
The Fusco hap lives in Lake Malawi, in the intermediate zone where sandy floors meet rocky outcrops, anywhere from about 5 to 50 meters down. The water is clear, hard, and alkaline. For a tank, that means open sandy areas for hunting plus some rock for cover, hard water, and pH in the high 7s to mid 8s. It needs the open space as much as the structure.
Good to know
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus is a large haplochromine cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching around 25 cm. Juveniles and females wear a mottled brown pattern, while mature males turn blue with vertical barring. It is a maternal mouthbrooder. Aquarium breeding is not well documented for this species, and it is considered stable in the wild for now.
Did you know
Its genus is known for a sneaky hunting trick: the fish lies still on the sand, looking like a dead or dying fish, until smaller fish drift close to investigate, then it lunges. This lie-and-wait ambush is a clear bit of deception and explains the open sandy patches it favors in the lake.
Common questions
What size tank does a Fusco hap need?
A Fusco hap needs at least 74 gal (280 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Fusco hap need?
A Fusco hap is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big does a Fusco hap get?
An adult Fusco hap reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
Related species
9.8 in (25 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Livingston's cichlid
Nimbochromis livingstonii
9.8 in (25 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
10.2 in (26 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Kaligono
Nimbochromis polystigma
10.2 in (26 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Linn's hap
Nimbochromis linni
9.8 in (25 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Venustus cichlid
Nimbochromis venustus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Anagenys hap
Exochochromis anagenys
9.8 in (25 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)75 gal (285 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Cuban cichlid
Nandopsis tetracanthus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)