All fish / Cichlidae

Azure Copadichromis

Copadichromis azureus

Also known as copadichromis azureus, haplochromis azureus, azureus hap, utaka azureus, copadichromis azureus chipoka, blue utaka, コパディクロミス・アズレウス, 蓝天使

Breeding males turn a rich metallic blue with a darker face and a pale blaze along the top of the head and dorsal fin, while females and young fish stay silvery grey. It is a utaka, an open water plankton picker from Lake Malawi, and people keep it for the striking male colour and its fairly calm nature for a Malawi cichlid.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

450 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton feeder that takes quality cichlid pellets, flakes, brine shrimp, mysis and krill

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the male cleans a spawning spot over sand or rock, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Breeding is easy in a well kept group with several females per male.

Good to know

Males squabble with each other and with similar blue haps, so keep only one male unless the tank is very large, and avoid housing with other Copadichromis or Aulonocara that may hybridise. Steer clear of very aggressive mbuna, which will stress this more open water fish.