All fish / Cichlidae

Electric Blue Hap

Sciaenochromis fryeri

Also known as electric blue ahli, haplochromis ahli, sciaenochromis ahli, electric blue haplochromis, ahli, fryeri, electric blue hap, iceberg hap, ปลาอาลี, スキアエノクロミス・フライエリー, ikan ahli, 阿里

Adult males are a striking metallic blue with darker vertical bars and often a white leading edge on the dorsal fin, while females are a plain silvery grey. It is a predatory open-water hap from rocky habitats in Lake Malawi and is kept for its vivid colour and active swimming in Malawi community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, frozen mysis, krill and small fish-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept aquarium with several females per male.

Good to know

Males can be aggressive towards similar blue males and will eat small fish, so avoid tiny tankmates and do not mix with other haps that could hybridise. Often sold under the outdated name Haplochromis ahli.