Redfin Hap

Geographic Origin and Habitat: Copadichromis borleyi is endemic to Lake Malawi in eastern Africa. FishBase classifies it as freshwater and benthopelagic, reporting it mostly near large boulders. In shallow water it also records schools at rocky islets on sand. Those field observations support a mixed boulder, sand and open-water context; a trade name does not establish a collecting locality, lineage or identical habitat for every aquarium fish.

Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted name is Copadichromis borleyi (Iles, 1960), in Cichlidae, Pseudocrenilabrinae. Eschmeyer's Catalog records Haplochromis borleyi Iles, 1960 as the original combination, while FishBase uses Cichliformes. FishBase reports 14.0 cm total length for a male or unsexed specimen. That method-specific maximum corrects the previous 16 cm scalar; it does not establish one invariant captive size.

Social Behaviour: In the field, males defend spawning sites on large boulders. That observation makes space, cover, sight lines and feeding access relevant in captivity, but it does not establish a universally peaceful temperament or one safe sex ratio. The current profile labels are management prompts only. Observe chasing, exclusion, injury and missed feeding in the actual group, and retain a practical way to separate fish if sustained social pressure develops.

Colouration and Sexual Dimorphism: The sources reviewed for this reconciliation do not establish a diagnostic colour rule for sexing every individual or a verified colour pattern for each trade form. The FishBase size entry is male or unsexed, not a male-female comparison. Use reliable provenance and taxonomic information where available, and do not treat labels such as Redfin or Kadango as proof of locality, lineage, sex or genetic identity.

Aquarium Setup: The current record sets a 300 L minimum and a group size of four, but the reviewed taxon-specific sources do not verify either as a universal welfare threshold. Build around usable open water, sand, large secure boulders, cover and broken sight lines, reflecting the reported habitat. Secure rockwork independently of sand movement, leave retreat routes and feeding access, and keep a practical separation plan for social conflict.

Diet and Feeding: FishBase records plankton feeding, and functional-morphology studies support water-column suction capture. Use varied, suitably sized foods, then adjust amount and frequency from appetite, body condition and measured water quality. Do not make one commercial formula, live food, a fasting day, one-to-two meals or a two-minute rule into a taxon-wide requirement. Uneaten food and persistent changes in feeding need assessment, not automatic treatment.

Water Quality: FishBase's taxon-specific entry gives 24–26 °C, pH 8.0–8.5 and dH 15–?. The structured temperature and pH ranges are updated to those documented values; GH remains unchanged because that entry gives no upper dH bound. These are not automatic correction or treatment targets. Maintain stable, tested freshwater conditions, oxygenation and nitrogen-waste control, and acclimate changes gradually rather than chasing a profile label.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Do not use the peaceful profile scalar or a named community list as a tankmate guarantee. Field spawning-site defence, size differences, sex composition, floor area, cover, sight lines and feeding access can all affect outcomes. Avoid combinations that cause continual retreat or prevent feeding. Persistent chasing, injury, exclusion or missed feeding shows that the arrangement requires change or separation, not that a fixed stock list is safe.

Aquarium Breeding: Males are reported to defend sites on large boulders and to spawn on a vertical face or in a small fine-sand bower on a boulder; females mouthbrood about 60 eggs. This does not promise breeding, clutch size, holding duration or success in an aquarium. Avoid unnecessary disturbance and prepare to reduce social pressure when needed. Do not strip, medicate or isolate by default without a case-specific reason and competent advice.

Risks and Disease: No taxon-specific disease or treatment protocol was established by the reviewed sources. Prevention includes measured water quality, suitable nutrition, sanitation and quarantine of new stock where practical. Abnormal appetite, respiration, posture, lesions or social withdrawal do not diagnose a cause. Treatment should follow assessment and qualified aquatic-health advice; do not use a universal medication regimen or assume that every change is infection.