Cichlids · Sciaenochromis

Electric blue hap

Sciaenochromis fryeri · Lake Malawi: rocky coasts lake-wide, 10-40 m

Photo: Ged 02, CC BY-SA 4.0, via iNaturalist

The Electric blue hap (Sciaenochromis fryeri) is a freshwater fish from Lake Malawi: rocky coasts lake-wide, 10-40 m, where it lives in lake habitat. Adults reach about 16 cm (6.3 in). Keep it at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) and pH 7.6–8.8, with a gentle current. It is semi-aggressive and does best in a group of 4 or more. Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

At a glance

Water temperature

24–28 °C 75–82 °F

7.6–8.8 hard, alkaline water

Adult size ≈

16 cm 6.3 in

Swims ≈

Mid-water mostly in open water

Keep together

4 or more a shoal feels safe

Current ≈

Gentle a steady gentle flow

Food

Meaty foods

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Where it comes from

Home water

Lake Malawi: rocky coasts lake-wide, 10-40 m

Lives in lake habitat.

Shaded: the countries it comes from. Map: Natural Earth.

Electric blue hap

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Cichlids · SciaenochromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Electric blue hap

Sciaenochromis fryeri

Lake Malawi: rocky coasts lake-wide, 10-40 m · lake

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 7.6–8.8
Adult size: 6 in · 16 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Mid-water
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Group: 4+
Status in the wild: Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

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savethelittlefish.org/species/electric-blue-hap/

Photo: Ged 02, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, water flow, swim level, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, home range Seriously Fish: Sciaenochromis fryeri profile Website
Conservation status, adult size, diet, home range, swim level, behaviour FishBase: Sciaenochromis fryeri summary Website
Photo Ged 02, CC BY-SA 4.0 iNaturalist
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with moderate flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Need a different pH and small enough to be eaten

Amano shrimp Cardinal tetra Celestial pearl danio Cherry barb Chili rasbora Ember tetra
Small enough to be eaten

Cherry shrimp
Aggressive and will eat the electric blue hap

Dovii

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does an Electric blue hap get?

About 16 cm (6.3 in) as an adult.

What temperature does an Electric blue hap need?

24–28 °C (75–82 °F).

What pH does an Electric blue hap need?

pH 7.6–8.8.

Does an Electric blue hap need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 4.

Is the Electric blue hap aggressive?

It can be. It is semi-aggressive, so choose tank mates carefully.

What does an Electric blue hap eat?

Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

Where does the Electric blue hap come from?

Lake Malawi: rocky coasts lake-wide, 10-40 m.

What fish can live with an Electric blue hap?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	24	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	28	Sourced
pH min	7.6	Sourced
pH max	8.8	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	16	Estimate
Flow	Moderate	Estimate
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	middle	Estimate
Habitat	lake	Sourced
Smallest happy group	4	Sourced
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Sourced
Diet	Carnivore	Sourced
Behaviour tags	eats_small_fish,hard_water	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.