Hap Polystigma Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

Hap Polystigma, also known as Nimbochromis polystigma, is a large predatory cichlid from Lake Malawi. Its body is marked with irregular dark blotches over a pale blue-grey, brownish or olive background, giving it a distinctive camouflage pattern. Mature males can develop stronger blue colouring, particularly across the head and flanks, while females generally retain a more subdued pattern.

Hap Polystigma comes from Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it is found mainly around rocky and sandy habitats along the lake’s shoreline and deeper coastal areas.

A single adult or compatible group should have at least 300 litres, with a footprint of around 150 × 50 cm or larger; a substantially bigger aquarium is preferable for a male and several females. Use a fine sand substrate, arrange robust rocks into caves and visual barriers, and leave generous open areas for swimming and hunting. Strong filtration, high oxygen levels and stable, alkaline water are important, while decorations must be securely positioned because large cichlids can rearrange the substrate.

Males can reach about 20 cm (8 in) in length, while females are usually smaller at around 15–17 cm (6–6.7 in).

This species is primarily carnivorous and should receive a varied diet of quality carnivorous cichlid pellets and granules, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as prawns, mysis, krill and earthworms. Young fish can be offered smaller foods more frequently. Avoid relying on mammal meat or fatty feeder fish, which can lead to nutritional and digestive problems.

Suitable companions include similarly sized Lake Malawi haps and other robust, peaceful-to-moderately assertive Malawi cichlids that will not fit in its mouth. Larger Protomelas, Copadichromis and Placidochromis may work in a spacious aquarium when carefully matched. Avoid small fish, delicate species and very aggressive mbuna, as Hap Polystigma is a predator and may eat smaller tankmates.

Hap Polystigma is a maternal mouthbrooder. Use one male with several females and provide open sand or a flat rock for spawning. The male displays around a chosen site, while the female collects the fertilised eggs into her mouth and incubates them for around three weeks. She may be moved to a separate breeding aquarium shortly before releasing the fry, which can be raised on finely crushed flakes, small granules and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Males are larger and typically develop more intense blue colouring, especially on the head and body, with stronger breeding colours. Females remain smaller and more heavily dominated by the brown, olive and dark blotched pattern.