TankBud

Malawi thick-lip

Cheilochromis euchilus

Also known as Big-lipped hap, Haplochromis euchilus

FreshwaterFish

Malawi thick-lip (Cheilochromis euchilus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
159 gal
600 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The Malawi thick-lip is a big, gentle Malawi hap with oversized, rubbery lips. It suits a keeper with some experience and a very large tank.

Did you know

The Malawi thick-lip's lips are less pronounced on tank-raised fish. In the lake they develop through constant contact with rough rock while it feeds in cracks. Without that daily wear and use, the lips grow smaller than they do on wild adults.

Caring for the Malawi thick-lip

Give a Malawi thick-lip at least 159 gal (600 L), with a sand floor and big, stable rock structures. Fill the rockwork with cracks and crevices for it to investigate.

Keep the water hard and alkaline like the lake, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Strong filtration keeps a fish this big in clean, well-oxygenated water. It works the bottom, pressing its face into rock crevices to feed, so offer meaty sinking foods.

It does not need its own kind around, so keep it singly or mixed in with other large, civil haps. Despite its size it is fairly peaceful. Its tank mates should be large enough not to be bullied or swallowed, so choose them with care. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it in captivity is hard.

Good to know

The Malawi thick-lip is a hap in the family Cichlidae. Its swollen lips form a seal against rock, so it can suck out the small invertebrates hiding in the cracks.

In the wild

Cheilochromis euchilus lives along inshore rocky areas all around Lake Malawi.

Common questions

What size tank does a Malawi thick-lip need?

A Malawi thick-lip needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Malawi thick-lip need?

A Malawi thick-lip is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a Malawi thick-lip eat?

A Malawi thick-lip eats meaty sinking foods. It works the bottom, pressing its face into rock crevices to feed.

How big does a Malawi thick-lip get?

An adult Malawi thick-lip reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

How does a Malawi thick-lip breed?

A Malawi thick-lip is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it in captivity is hard.

Related species