Star sapphire cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

Give a group a tank of at least 300 liters with open sand and some rock, hard alkaline water at 25 to 28 C, pH 7.8 to 8.6. It is peaceful for its size and belongs with other calm haps and peacocks rather than aggressive mbuna. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods, and be patient since the males color up slowly. One male with several females works best.

In the wild

The star sapphire is a large sand and rock hap from the northwest of Lake Malawi. Adult males turn a deep metallic blue speckled with white dots that look like stars. The Mdoka population also develops bright white lips.

Good to know

Placidochromis phenochilus is a maternal mouthbrooder that reaches a good size but keeps a calm temperament. In the wild it follows sand sifting cichlids and eats what they stir up, much like its relative the deepwater hap. The white spotting on males develops slowly and can take a couple of years to show fully.

Did you know

Young males look plain silver for a long time, so the shimmering blue and white adult color is a slow reward that can take two years to arrive.

Related species

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• 

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• 

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• 

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