Electric blue hap
Sciaenochromis fryeri
A vivid blue predatory hap from Lake Malawi; not very aggressive, but it eats any fish or fry that fits in its mouth.
Key facts
- Body length
- 7.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 95 gallons
- Group
- 4+
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, frozen mysis, krill and shrimp
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, East Africa
- Hardier than27%
- Bigger than84%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Electric blue hap tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Kissing gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Weather loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Banded archerfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Silver monoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidElectric blue hap outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 12450 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Bristlenose plecoElectric blue hap (predatory) will bully the peaceful Bristlenose pleco.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterElectric blue hap attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Chinese algae eater.Risky
- Clown loachElectric blue hap attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Clown loach.Risky
- Convict cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 9450 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Neon tetraElectric blue hap can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraElectric blue hap can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyElectric blue hap can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasElectric blue hap can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusElectric blue hap can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpElectric blue hap can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for electric blue haps: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 20 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 120.00 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 26.43 BU
- Min. water
- 304 L net
- Min. footprint
- 150 × 45 cm per group
- Group
- 4+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Care notes
Electric blue haps grow to about 8 inches and are highly piscivorous, taking the young of other fish in the wild. Males are an intense electric blue; females are much duller.
Keep one male with three or more females in a 5-foot tank of 75 gallons or more, over sand. Avoid small fish, shrimp and other bright blue males, and keep them away from rough mbuna.
Questions
What size tank does a electric blue hap need?
At least 95 gallons (304 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 7.9 inches without fins.
How many electric blue haps should be kept together?
Keep at least 4, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do electric blue haps need?
75–82 °F, pH 8.2–8.5 and 10–25 dGH. Electric blue haps come from Lake Malawi, East Africa.
How long do electric blue haps live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with electric blue haps?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Common pleco, Leopard sailfin pleco, Severum and Three spot gourami. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.