Malawi hawk cichlid
Aristochromis christyi
Also known as Hawk hap, Christyi hap
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 159 gal
- 600 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
The Malawi hawk cichlid is a large, slow-moving predator for a big Malawi hap tank. It is within reach of a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
True to its hawk nickname, the Malawi hawk cichlid often attacks tilted onto its side. Rolling its body lets it slip its long snout into rock cracks after hidden fish and fry that a level approach could never reach.
Caring for the Malawi hawk cichlid
Give a Malawi hawk cichlid at least 159 gal (600 L), with plenty of length, since it outgrows casual plans. Lay a sand floor with substantial rockwork along the back and sides. Leave open water in front for it to patrol and turn.
Keep the water hard, alkaline and warm, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Run heavy filtration to cope with a fish this large. Feed meaty foods such as quality pellets and frozen fare, never small feeder fish.
It is solitary and aggressive, so keep it singly or as one male with a couple of females, not in a group of rivals. Tank mates must be big enough not to look like prey and tough enough to share space with a hunter. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it reliably in a tank is hard.
Good to know
The Malawi hawk cichlid is a member of the family Cichlidae. It has an elongate body, a bulbous head and a hooked snout, with a dark diagonal band running from the eye toward the tail.
In the wild
Aristochromis christyi hunts along the rock-to-sand transition in Lake Malawi, where it preys on smaller mbuna. It drifts close to the cover where those smaller cichlids shelter.
Common questions
What size tank does a Malawi hawk cichlid need?
A Malawi hawk cichlid needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Malawi hawk cichlid need?
A Malawi hawk cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Malawi hawk cichlid eat?
A Malawi hawk cichlid eats meaty foods such as quality pellets and frozen fare. Never feed it small feeder fish.
How big does a Malawi hawk cichlid get?
An adult Malawi hawk cichlid reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
How does a Malawi hawk cichlid breed?
A Malawi hawk cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it reliably in a tank is hard.
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