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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
Tankmates with caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Lake Malawi, endemic
Family
Cichlidae

Overview

The spectabilis hap is a large, active, predatory Malawi cichlid that hunts in open water, so it needs a big tank with long, clear swimming lanes. In the lake it lives in groups, so keep it as one male with several females, or alongside other large, robust haps, and never with fish small enough to swallow. Feed quality pellets and frozen meaty foods, avoiding oily fish that Malawi cichlids handle poorly, and keep the water hard and alkaline. A tank of around 600 liters is a realistic minimum for a predator of this size and drive.

In the wild

Buccochromis spectabilis is endemic to Lake Malawi, hunting over shallow sandy shores and the intermediate zones between sand and rock. Give it open sand, some scattered rock, and plenty of swimming space, in the lake's hard, alkaline, warm water at pH 7.6-8.6 and 24-28 C.

Good to know

Buccochromis spectabilis is an elongate predatory cichlid reaching around 25 to 30 centimeters, one of the showier members of its genus, with blue and gold in display males. It is a high-level piscivore and a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding is of medium difficulty. It is only rarely exported.

Did you know

Its name is a promise: spectabilis means worth seeing, or remarkable. For a fish that shows off blue and gold across a body the length of a forearm, the label, for once, may even undersell it.

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 do Spectabilis hap need?

Spectabilis hap are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.

How big do Spectabilis hap get?

An adult Spectabilis hap reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Cichlids

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