Deep Water Hap

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lake Malawi. It stably populates much darker and deeper zones (between 15 and 30 meters) where it encounters vast sandy dunes interspersed with occasional boulders. Light filters dimly into this bluish ecosystem.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Haplochromini group ("Haps" subfamily). Presents the classic tall and robust body with extremely extended and flowing fins in adult specimens. Less aerodynamic and predatory than giants like Nimbochromis, it hovers around 14-16 cm (6 inches) for males and slightly less for females.

Social Behavior: It exactly honors the name "Placido". It is an exceptionally phlegmatic and gregarious cichlid, incapable of true rabid aggression. In nature it often implements the commensal strategy of the Malawi dolphins: it follows large digging cichlids in small flocks gathering and nibbling the benthic micro-invertebrates left in suspension in the column of sand dust that they raise.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Enchanting lavender and pastel blue shade widespread everywhere, which in the male in estrus ignites assuming a dark cobalt color on the snout and metallic throat. The unmistakable aesthetic peculiarity is the half vertical black mask dropped from the eye that continues with strong dark bars towards the shoulders. Females are identical as a base coloration but distinctly faded with opaque silver nuances.

Aquarium Setup: Being an imposing sized fish that loves movement and grouping, it demands a dedicated community tank (150 cm / 300 abundant liters / 80 Gal) set to a continuous sandy expanse interspersed solely with some rounded rocky monoliths. Do not plant (they will dig slight pits at the rocky edges). Never excessive lights, penalty fulminating stress since they love the dark depth.

Diet and Feeding: Micro-predators. Omnivorous bottom gatherers, they sift the sand and discard the gravel from gills and lips. The home diet will be omnivorous with a benthic prevalence: giant mysis, spirulina alternated with red bloodworms. They tolerate commercial sinking cichlid granules without breaking down with lethal obstructions like Tropheus.

Water Quality: Typical Malawi trident: excellent high pH guaranteed with marine buffers (7.5 - 8.5) and extreme GH carbonate hardnesses. Requires very clean oxygenated water with constant siphoning to the sandy bottom, which must be stirred to prevent anaerobic algae rot harmful to this species perpetually on the bottom.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Its ineptitude and disinterest in fighting makes it vulnerable but highly beloved to insert in "Haps and Peacocks Tanks" populated by quiet Aulonocara, Copadichromis and Lethrinops. Useless to reiterate the madness of accompanying such "gentlemen" with furious schools of Mbuna or worse turbulent South American cichlids, as they would be confined to rot curled up.

Aquarium Breeding: Polygamous brooding species, sometimes very reluctant to domestic reproduction in unbalanced or overcrowded tanks. Segregating the male with 3 or 4 females in a separate tank will trigger the magic: the male shows off iridescent colors attracting the female towards a brushed sand concavity, she will retain the formed little ones releasing them among small massifs for about a month of complete starvation of the mother.

Risks and Diseases: They stress frighteningly and pale in the intense light typical of phytostimulating lamps, refusing the meal or losing weight from stress. Easy contraction of skin abrasions if set up in the presence of gravel or pointed vitreous splinters on the bottom avidly explored by them with bites.