TankBud

Red fin hap

Copadichromis borleyi

FreshwaterFish

Red fin hap (Copadichromis borleyi)
The original uploader was MidgleyDJ at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The red fin hap is a fairly peaceful Malawi cichlid that needs a big tank. It is easy to keep if you have the room.

Did you know

The red fin hap's common name covers a cluster of regional color forms from different parts of the lake. Fish sold under the same name can look noticeably different, depending on where the wild stock came from.

Caring for the red fin hap

Give red fin haps at least 79 gal (300 L), with a big footprint. They hold the middle of the tank, so leave plenty of open water to cruise, backed by rock piles for cover.

Keep the water hard, alkaline and very stable, as it is in the lake. Aim for 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, with good filtration to keep them healthy. Feed a quality cichlid pellet with some vegetable matter and the occasional frozen food.

Red fin haps are safe with other peaceful community fish, but they get territorial when breeding. Give them space, and keep a group with enough females.

Males show strong blue and red color, while females stay plainer. A male clears out a small spawning spot and puts on a strong display of color and movement to draw females in. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they can swim on their own. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The red fin hap is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, from the open-water hap group of Lake Malawi. Wild populations are currently considered stable.

In the wild

Red fin haps live in Lake Malawi in East Africa, around rocky shorelines and the open sand near them. In the wild they pick plankton from the water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red fin hap is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a red fin hap need?

A red fin hap needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a red fin hap need?

A red fin hap is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a red fin hap eat?

A red fin hap eats a quality cichlid pellet with some vegetable matter and the occasional frozen food.

How big does a red fin hap get?

An adult red fin hap reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

How can you tell a male red fin hap from a female?

Males show strong blue and red color, while females stay plainer.

How does a red fin hap breed?

Red fin haps are maternal mouthbrooders. Males clear out a small spawning spot and display to draw females in, and the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding them is hard.

Related species