All fish / Cichlidae

Firecrest Hap

Copadichromis virginalis

Also known as firecrest mloto, fire crest hap, copadichromis firecrest, virginalis firecrest, haplochromis firecrest, fire crest utaka, firecrest utaka

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The firecrest hap is a slim, open-water utaka cichlid from Lake Malawi. Breeding males turn almost black with a bright red dorsal fin and a pale blaze across the head, while females stay silvery brown. It is kept for that striking male colour and its fairly calm nature compared with many Malawi cichlids.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females, or a larger group of mixed sexes

Diet

Omnivore: zooplankton feeder that takes quality small pellets, flakes, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and daphnia

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The male builds a sand nest or claims a spawning site, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Spawning in the aquarium is quite achievable but the fish are not often available, so getting breeding stock can be the harder part.

Good to know

It needs a long tank with plenty of swimming space and hard, alkaline water; avoid boisterous mbuna that will bully it. Females look like those of other Copadichromis species, so do not keep them together or the species may hybridise.