Johnston's placidochromis
Placidochromis johnstoni
Also known as Haplochromis johnstoni
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal (450 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Placidochromis johnstoni lives up to the genus name: a large, unhurried hap that spends its time working open floor and weed edges rather than defending ground. Keep a single male, or a male with females if the tank is long enough, alongside other calm large haps. It needs swimming length more than it needs decor. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods, since it takes prey from the substrate and will sift sand to find it.
In the wild
Placidochromis johnstoni ranges through the weedy shallows and sheltered margins of Lake Malawi, hunting invertebrates and small fish among vegetation. Keep it at 24 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 7.5 to 8.5 in hard alkaline water, over sand with some cover and a long open swimming run.
Good to know
Placidochromis johnstoni reaches about 20 centimeters and is the type species of Placidochromis, a genus named for exactly the temperament it shows. A dark stripe runs from the snout through the eye to the tail, broken into separate blotches in some populations. It is a maternal mouthbrooder.
Did you know
The genus means placid fish, and johnstoni holds the founding chair; serenity, with a stripe.
Common questions
What size tank does a Johnston's placidochromis need?
A Johnston's placidochromis needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Johnston's placidochromis need?
Johnston's placidochromis are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Johnston's placidochromis get?
An adult Johnston's placidochromis reaches about 7.9 in (20 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 Johnston's placidochromis?
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Related species
Star sapphire cichlid
Placidochromis phenochilusFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Deepwater hap
Placidochromis electraFreshwater7.1 in (18 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)VC-10 hap
Placidochromis milomoFreshwater9.1 in (23 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Chameleon hap
Protomelas annectensFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blackgullet firemouth
Thorichthys pasionisFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Oxyrhynchus hap
Hemitilapia oxyrhynchusFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)