Haplochromis Moorii
Quick Stats
| Size | 8" (20cm) |
|---|---|
| Tank | 180 litres + |
| Swimming Area | All |
| Ph | 7.2 to 8.6 |
| Temperature | 75ºF to 81ºF(23-28°C) |
| Food | Flaked, pelleted, live and frozen foods |
Common Name:
Cyrtocara Moorii, Haplochromis Moorii, Dolphin Cichlid.
Distribution:
Africa, lake Malawi. One of the Great rift lakes.
Colouration:
Predominately light blue with darker blue stripes.
Lifespan:
10 years +
Maintenance:
10 to 20% weekly water changes. Keeping the Malawi Cichlids is not difficult as long as certain requirements are met. They should be kept in a large community aquarium with other Mbuna type fish like the species from the Labeotropheus, Melanochromis as well as others from the Pseudotropheus Genus.
Feeding:
Carnivorous - prefers live foods or frozen foods over flake or pellet foods. Classified as a micro-predator, it follows close behind substrate-digging cichlids - like Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis, Fossorochromis rostratus, and Mylochromis lateristriga – and feeds on the small edible organisms and particles that get stirred up behind them as they feed.
Substrate:
Sand.
Tank Decor:
Haplochromis Moorii are not an aggressive fish. They need large swimming spaces, so a 90 gallon tank is recommended. Rocks and other hiding areas can be provided, however they traditionally stay away from the rocks due to fear of mbunas, like the Cobalt Blue Zebra, the Red Zebra or the Blue Johanni. Neverthess, Blue Moorii can hold their own against mbunas. Plants are not recommended.
Filtration:
Provide good filtration and do frequent water changes.
Biotype:
Rocky regions of the lake.
Breeding:
Not easy. Keep at least three females for each male. Frequent water changes are essential both for breeding and for the growth of the fry. Very hard to determine the sexes. The cranial lump occurs on both the male and the female.