Star sapphire cichlid
Placidochromis phenochilus
Also known as Star sapphire, Phenochilus, Mdoka white lips, Placidochromis gisseli, Gissel cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–82°F
- 25–28°C
- pH
- 7.8–8.6
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Sandy and rocky areas of the northwestern shore of Lake Malawi in East Africa.
Overview
The star sapphire cichlid is a large hap from Lake Malawi that lives over sand and rock. It is easy to keep, given a big tank and gentle neighbors.
Did you know
The star sapphire cichlid follows sand-sifting cichlids in Lake Malawi and eats what they stir up. Its relative the deepwater hap feeds the same way.
Caring for the star sapphire cichlid
Give a group of star sapphire cichlids at least 79 gal (300 L), with open sand and some rock. One male with several females works best.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 8.6. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods.
Star sapphire cichlids reach a good size but keep a calm temperament. House them with other gentle haps and peacocks rather than aggressive mbuna.
Adult males turn a deep metallic blue speckled with white dots that look like stars. Young males stay plain silver for a long time, and the full color can take two years to arrive. The star sapphire is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is easy.
Good to know
Placidochromis phenochilus is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Other names for it include phenochilus, Mdoka white lips, Gissel cichlid and Placidochromis gisseli.
In the wild
The star sapphire cichlid comes from sandy and rocky areas along the northwestern shore of Lake Malawi in East Africa. Fish from the Mdoka population develop bright white lips.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The star sapphire cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Common questions
What size tank does a star sapphire cichlid need?
A star sapphire cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a star sapphire cichlid need?
A star sapphire cichlid is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 7.8–8.6.
What does a star sapphire cichlid eat?
A star sapphire cichlid eats sinking pellets and frozen foods.
How big does a star sapphire cichlid get?
An adult star sapphire cichlid reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
How can you tell a male star sapphire cichlid from a female?
Males turn a deep metallic blue speckled with white, star-like dots as adults. Young males stay plain silver for a long time, and the full color can take two years to arrive.
How does a star sapphire cichlid breed?
The star sapphire cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is easy. One male with several females works best.
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