Spectabilis hap
Buccochromis spectabilis
Also known as Showy buccochromis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 159 gal
- 600 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, endemic
Overview
The Spectabilis hap is a large, active predator from Lake Malawi for a very big tank. It is aggressive, and its care is a step beyond beginner level.
Did you know
The Spectabilis hap takes its name from spectabilis, meaning worth seeing or remarkable. It is one of the showier members of its genus.
Caring for the Spectabilis hap
Give a Spectabilis hap a tank of at least 159 gal (600 L), with long, clear swimming lanes. Furnish it with open sand and some scattered rock. It hunts in open water and swims in the middle of the tank.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6. Feed quality pellets and frozen meaty foods. Avoid oily fish, which Malawi cichlids handle poorly.
In the lake it lives in groups, so keep one male with several females. It can also live alongside other large, robust haps. Never keep it with fish small enough to swallow.
Display males show blue and gold. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The Spectabilis hap is an elongate, predatory cichlid and a high-level piscivore. It is only rarely exported.
In the wild
The Spectabilis hap is endemic to Lake Malawi. It hunts over shallow sandy shores and the intermediate zones between sand and rock, where the water is hard, alkaline and warm.
Common questions
What size tank does a Spectabilis hap need?
A Spectabilis hap needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Spectabilis hap need?
A Spectabilis hap is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.
What does a Spectabilis hap eat?
A Spectabilis hap eats quality pellets and frozen meaty foods. Avoid oily fish, which Malawi cichlids handle poorly.
How big does a Spectabilis hap get?
An adult Spectabilis hap reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
How can you tell a male Spectabilis hap from a female?
Males show blue and gold when they display.
How does a Spectabilis hap breed?
The Spectabilis hap is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is moderately difficult.
Related species
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Buccochromis heterotaenia
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Buccochromis nototaenia
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