Deepwater Hap Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Deepwater Hap, Placidochromis electra, is an elegant Lake Malawi cichlid with a streamlined body and a distinctive blue-and-white appearance. Mature males typically develop vivid metallic blue colouring across the head and body, while the fins may show darker edging or subtle bluish highlights. Females are generally more silver-grey, with less intense colouration.

Unlike many highly aggressive Malawi cichlids, this species is comparatively calm and deliberate in its behaviour. It spends much of its time cruising over open areas, inspecting the substrate and interacting with members of its own group. Males may defend small territories, particularly when courting, but the species is not usually as boisterous as many mbuna.

In the wild, Deepwater Haps are associated with sandy lake beds near rocky zones. Their elongated form and downward-oriented mouth suit a lifestyle of searching through sediment for small invertebrates and other edible organisms. This natural feeding behaviour gives them an active, purposeful presence in the aquarium.

Placidochromis electra is one of the non-mbuna, or “haps”, from Lake Malawi. It is valued by aquarists for its attractive adult colouration, relatively peaceful temperament and interesting mouthbrooding behaviour. Colour develops most strongly in mature, settled males, especially when they are kept in suitable social groups.

Deepwater Haps are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are associated with deeper sandy areas and rocky habitats around the lake, where they forage over the substrate.

A group should be kept in an aquarium of at least 300 litres, with a footprint around 120 × 45 cm or larger; a bigger tank is preferable for multiple males or a mixed Malawi community. Use fine sand or another smooth substrate so the fish can sift and search naturally, together with sturdy rockwork arranged into caves, boundaries and visual barriers. Leave generous open swimming space at the front and centre, and secure all rocks firmly because large cichlids may disturb the substrate.

Males reach approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in adult length, while females are usually smaller at around 12 cm (4.7 inches).

Offer a varied carnivorous diet based on high-quality cichlid pellets or granules, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as mysis shrimp, krill, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Small portions of suitably sized invertebrate-rich foods are appropriate. Feed modest amounts once or twice daily and avoid relying heavily on fatty mammalian foods, which are unsuitable for cichlids.

Deepwater Haps can be housed with similarly sized, relatively peaceful Lake Malawi haps and other compatible open-water cichlids, such as Copadichromis, Aulonocara and peaceful Protomelas species. Avoid mixing them with very aggressive mbuna, highly territorial Malawi cichlids or fish small enough to be swallowed. Keeping only one male with several females helps limit rivalry; multiple males require a particularly spacious aquarium with plenty of broken sightlines.

Deepwater Haps are maternal mouthbrooders. Use one male with several females and condition them with a varied, protein-rich diet. After spawning, the female collects the eggs in her mouth and fertilises them by picking up the male’s egg spots. She incubates the brood for around three to four weeks, during which time she may eat very little. A separate breeding aquarium or carefully managed main tank gives the female and released fry the best chance of survival.

Males are larger and develop much stronger metallic blue colouration, particularly on the head and flanks, with more pronounced colour in the fins. Females remain smaller and are usually silvery or grey-blue with comparatively subdued markings.