Ok I have a borleyi cichlid and I have heard him described as a "hap" and well I don't know what that is. They say he should he should be put with other "haps" but I don't know what they are. Tried looking it up in my books, and on google have pulled a blank some clarification and maybe some tank mate ideas would be awesome. He at present is in with 3 jewels, and an Acei, but they are all getting upgraded within the next 2 months to a 65 gallon and I want to get appropriate tank mates.
Pretty confused....need some clarification
- Thread starter Ravenfish
- Start date
Hap's are generally a name give to certain cichlids that are larger in size (when adults). Really any cichlid over 7/8" in size is pushing towards being labeled as a "Hap".
Also, any cichlid genus name ending with "...chromis" is usually considered a "Hap".
Also, any cichlid genus name ending with "...chromis" is usually considered a "Hap".
Hap is a term used to describe Utaka or rift lake openwater cichlids, they do not live in caves. They range from the 4" Victorians to the 3' Giant Hap. Utaka means "free-roaming hunter."
Mbuna means "rock fish", They live in rockpiles in lake malawi mostly 3-6" in size with one of the expections being Psudeotropheus Carbo(Bumblebee) @ 8".
Peacock is an alternate word used to describe Malawi Cichlids in the Aulonocara species. The male fish have brillant colors. Sometimes Peacock is also used to describe male Haps with a multitude of brillant colors as well.
At the top of the forum there are sticky's for the Haps and Peacocks.
Mbuna means "rock fish", They live in rockpiles in lake malawi mostly 3-6" in size with one of the expections being Psudeotropheus Carbo(Bumblebee) @ 8".
Peacock is an alternate word used to describe Malawi Cichlids in the Aulonocara species. The male fish have brillant colors. Sometimes Peacock is also used to describe male Haps with a multitude of brillant colors as well.
At the top of the forum there are sticky's for the Haps and Peacocks.
The fish you have is copadichromis borleyi. It is called a hap because before these fish were given proper scientific names they were all referred to as haplochromine cichlids. This is why the fish are listed as Hap borleyi in older textbooks and copadichromis in newer ones. I believe if you would like to get a better understanding of these fish and their requirements you should spend the money and Get ad konnings book Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habbitat this book will help greatly in determining which fish can be kept together. I also saw you were getting a 65 gallon tank, I would not recommend this size tank for Haps, as they are open water swimmers of considerable size. Because hieght to the tank is not as inportant as the footprint They would be better in a 55 gallon than a 65 gallon. A 75 would be a great choice.
I would recommend at least a 6 ft long tank minimum of (120 gal) if you plan on doing a setup consistingof mostly haps especially if you plan on getting more male types. a 75 gal would be ok if you are just sticking with a one or mabye 2 species tank but these fish will get terrortorial so the bigger the tank the better off you will be in the long run... also Ad Konning's books are awesome!
Sticky is a start, Ad's books are amazing, and of course so is Ad!
Bigger better for haps... I know a person who is doing a 500 for them.
Bigger better for haps... I know a person who is doing a 500 for them.
you can also check out
www.cichlid-forum.com
and look at the profiles section.
Haps eat fish.
Mbuna eat algae
Peacocks are basically filter feeders - meaning that they sift the sand for micro organisms. Haps get the biggest. A lot of the haps are absolutely stunning as they mature.
Sorry to pump another site, but it has helped me immeasurably during my time in the hobby
www.cichlid-forum.com
and look at the profiles section.
Haps eat fish.
Mbuna eat algae
Peacocks are basically filter feeders - meaning that they sift the sand for micro organisms. Haps get the biggest. A lot of the haps are absolutely stunning as they mature.
Sorry to pump another site, but it has helped me immeasurably during my time in the hobby