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Contents
Overview
The electric blue hap, Sciaenochromis fryeri, was sold for years as Haplochromis ahli and is still often called the "electric blue ahli." Adult males show an intense electric blue, often with a white edge on the dorsal fin and, depending on the population, a reddish-orange patch on the throat and anal fin. Females and juveniles are silvery gray.
Unlike mbuna, it cruises open water near the rocks and is a predator that hunts the fry of other cichlids in the wild. It is calm with fish its own size but will eat anything that fits in its mouth. It is a natural fit for a large hap and peacock tank.
Care and tank setup
Males reach 6 to 7 inches (15-18 cm) and are strong swimmers: plan on about 110 gallons (400 liters) and a 5-foot (150 cm) tank for one male and two or three females. Water should be hard, alkaline, well filtered and well oxygenated.
- Aquascape: sand, a few rock formations with caves and, above all, lots of open swimming space.
- Plants: it usually leaves them alone; hard-water-tolerant anubias, vallisneria and crypts work.
- Tankmates: haps and peacocks of similar size. Mbuna only if they are the milder kinds and the tank is large. Small fish and shrimp will be eaten.
- Common mistakes: short tanks, very aggressive mbuna that bully it, or small tankmates.
A cycled tank, a heater and weekly 30% water changes are essential.
Feeding
It is a carnivore. Offer a quality sinking pellet for carnivorous cichlids, based on krill or fish, and supplement with frozen mysis, krill or brine shrimp. Avoid live feeder fish, which spread disease, and beef heart. Two small meals a day are enough, and one fasting day a week does it good.
Breeding
The electric blue hap is a maternal mouthbrooder. The male, in full color, courts the female beside a rock or over a pit in the sand; she holds 20 to 60 eggs in her mouth for about three weeks and then releases independent fry. It breeds well in aquariums. To avoid hybrids, do not keep it with females of other blue hap species.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Electric blue hap. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Molly Poecilia sphenops 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Giant danio Devario aequipinnatus 63 gal (240 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Yellow lab cichlid Labidochromis caeruleus 53 gal (200 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Paradise fish Macropodus opercularis 21 gal (80 L) · 61–79 °F (16–26 °C) 
Blue acara Andinoacara pulcher 53 gal (200 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Eastern rainbowfish (splendid rainbowfish) Melanotaenia splendida 53 gal (200 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Celebes rainbowfish Marosatherina ladigesi 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Blue gourami Trichopodus trichopterus 32 gal (120 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Synodontis petricola Synodontis petricola 53 gal (200 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Electric blue hap, and why.
- Cherry barb: incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
- Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
- Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Discus: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH
- Guppy: one may eat the other due to size
- Otocinclus catfish: incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
- Ram cichlid: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
- Harlequin rasbora: incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Electric blue hap healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Electric blue hap need?
At least about 400 liters for a group of at least 3 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Electric blue hap need?
Between 24 and 27 °C, with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5.
What fish can live with the Electric blue hap?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bronze cory, Molly, Swordtail, Firemouth cichlid and Giant danio. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Electric blue hap be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
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