TankBud

Snail-crusher hap

Chilotilapia rhoadesii

Also known as Rhoadesii, Chilotilapia

FreshwaterFish

Snail-crusher hap (Chilotilapia rhoadesii)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

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

Overview

The snail-crusher hap is a large Malawi cichlid that is ruinous for snails, which is the whole reason to keep one. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The snail-crusher hap shells a snail in one motion. It crushes the snail, keeps the meat and spits out a rain of broken shell.

Caring for the snail-crusher hap

Give a snail-crusher hap a long tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), with a sand floor and open room to move. It spends most of its time near the bottom.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed hard foods such as snails, mussel and a firm pellet. Do not expect a Melanoides population to survive it.

Keep a single fish, or a male with females. It is peaceful with other fish and mixes well with other large haps, but choose tank mates with some caution.

Males turn blue-black with a metallic sheen across the head when mature. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The snail-crusher hap is the only species in its genus, Chilotilapia. Its pharyngeal jaws stay heavy and molar-toothed throughout life, the machinery that shells Melanoides snails.

In the wild

The snail-crusher hap lives in Lake Malawi, where it works weedy sand and picks up snails.

Common questions

What size tank does a snail-crusher hap need?

A snail-crusher hap needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a snail-crusher hap need?

A snail-crusher hap is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a snail-crusher hap eat?

A snail-crusher hap eats hard foods such as snails, mussel and a firm pellet.

How big does a snail-crusher hap get?

An adult snail-crusher hap reaches about 8.9 in (22.5 cm).

How can you tell a male snail-crusher hap from a female?

Males turn blue-black with a metallic sheen across the head when they mature.

How does a snail-crusher hap breed?

The snail-crusher hap is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species