Green slender-tail hap
Buccochromis lepturus
Also known as Slender tail hap, Green buccochromis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- Adult size
- 13.8 in
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 211 gal
- 800 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, endemic
Overview
The green slender-tail hap is a large, fast Malawi predator for a very big tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers with the space and filtration to match its size.
Did you know
The green slender-tail hap's tapering tail is built for speed. Its slim, streamlined rear end lets this open water hunter accelerate onto smaller fish in the clear water off Malawi's coasts.
Caring for the green slender-tail hap
Give a green slender-tail hap a very big tank of at least 211 gal (800 L), with a long footprint for swimming. Lay a broad sand floor and keep the rockwork toward the back and sides rather than filling the tank. Leave open water above the sand.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6. Strong filtration and generous tank length are the limiting factors for keeping it well. Feed meaty foods suited to a fish eater, such as quality pellets and frozen krill and mysis. Avoid a diet of live feeder fish.
Keep one male with a few females, but only alongside other large Malawi cichlids. Anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be eaten. It is too big and boisterous for a standard community.
Males flush metallic green as they mature. Like other haps, it is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female incubates the eggs in her mouth. Breeding is rated as moderate.
Good to know
Buccochromis lepturus is a hap in the family Cichlidae. Its species name means slender tailed, for its long, tapering rear body and tail.
In the wild
The green slender-tail hap ranges over open water and sand flats in Lake Malawi. It chases down smaller fish across the bottom and midwater.
Common questions
What size tank does a green slender-tail hap need?
A green slender-tail hap needs at least 211 gal (800 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a green slender-tail hap need?
A green slender-tail hap is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.
What does a green slender-tail hap eat?
A green slender-tail hap eats meaty foods suited to a fish eater, such as quality pellets and frozen krill and mysis. Avoid a diet of live feeder fish.
How big does a green slender-tail hap get?
An adult green slender-tail hap reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).
How can you tell a male green slender-tail hap from a female?
Males flush metallic green as they mature.
How does a green slender-tail hap breed?
The green slender-tail hap is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female incubates the eggs in her mouth. Breeding is rated as moderate.
Related species
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Buccochromis rhoadesii
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Buccochromis heterotaenia
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Buccochromis spectabilis
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9.1 in (23 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Stripeback buccochromis
Buccochromis nototaenia
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