Linn's hap

Care at a glance

Overview

Linn's hap is a patient ambush predator from Lake Malawi for a very large, rocky tank. It suits a keeper who has kept fish before.

Caring for the Linn's hap

Keep one Linn's hap in a very large Malawi tank of at least 159 gal (600 L). Give it large stonework and enough length for a predator of its size.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. It is a predator, so feed prepared and frozen meaty foods on a schedule. Do not feed it live fish.

Linn's haps are aggressive, so choose tank mates with caution. Pick only fish big enough not to register as prey. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Linn's hap carries the cloud-blotched pattern its genus is named for, dark patches over a pale ground that shift as its mood changes. Its snout is noticeably longer and more decurved than in other Nimbochromis, an adaptation for picking prey out from under rock ledges. It grows slowly and lives a long time.

In the wild

Nimbochromis linni hunts in the rocky habitat of Lake Malawi. Its blotched camouflage breaks up its outline against the stone.

Common questions

Related species

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• 

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• 

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