TankBud

Sulphur-head hap

Otopharynx lithobates

Also known as Sulphurhead hap, Zimbabwe rock, Zimbabwe rock cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Sulphur-head hap (Otopharynx lithobates)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
6.3 in
16 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Endemic to Lake Malawi (southern rocky areas, Africa)

Overview

The sulphur-head hap is a mostly peaceful Malawi cichlid for a rocky, hard-water tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The sulphur-head hap is named for the male's breeding dress. The same yellow to orange band across his head gave it the old trade name red-top. Outside of display he can dial that color back.

Caring for the sulphur-head hap

Keep sulphur-head haps as a harem of one male with three or more females, in at least 53 gal (200 L). The harem spreads the male's attention during spawning and stops a single female from being harassed. Build rockwork with caves over a sandy floor, with open sand lanes between the piles.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, with high KH and GH. Hold it at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.8. Stability matters more than an exact number, so aim for steady readings. Feed a carnivore-leaning diet of live and frozen foods, and avoid the spirulina-heavy diets sold for mbuna.

The sulphur-head hap is mostly peaceful and stays near the bottom, but it is territorial and will eat small fish. Skip tiny community tank mates and avoid boisterous mbuna.

Males color up with a neon blue head and a yellow to orange blaze, while females and juveniles stay plain silver. Females also stay smaller than dominant males, at about 10 to 12 cm. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they swim free. Breeding is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The sulphur-head hap, Otopharynx lithobates, is a hap in the family Cichlidae.

In the wild

The sulphur-head hap is endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. It lives over the southern rocky areas of this hard, alkaline rift lake. It is a rock-dwelling fish and is hardly ever seen in open water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The sulphur-head hap 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a sulphur-head hap need?

A sulphur-head hap needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a sulphur-head hap need?

A sulphur-head hap is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.8.

What does a sulphur-head hap eat?

A sulphur-head hap eats a carnivore-leaning diet of live and frozen foods. Skip the spirulina-heavy diets sold for mbuna.

How big does a sulphur-head hap get?

An adult sulphur-head hap reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).

How can you tell a male sulphur-head hap from a female?

Males color up with a neon blue head and a yellow to orange blaze, while females and juveniles stay plain silver. Females also stay smaller, at about 10 to 12 cm.

How does a sulphur-head hap breed?

The sulphur-head hap is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they swim free, and breeding is a moderate challenge.

Related species