Biology:Electric blue hap
| Electric blue hap | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cichliformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Genus: | Sciaenochromis |
| Species: | S. ahli
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| Binomial name | |
| Sciaenochromis ahli (Trewavas, 1935)
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| Synonyms | |
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The electric blue hap (Sciaenochromis ahli) is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi. It prefers to live in caves and crevices in rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. It can occasionally be found in the aquarium trade.[2]
In the aquarium
Although it occasionally appears in the trade, the true electric blue hap (Sciaenochromis ahli) is rarely imported for aquaria; most fish sold under that common name belong to the related species Sciaenochromis fryeri.[3][4][5] It should be kept in tanks of no less than 150 litres. A semi-aggressive fish, only one male is recommended per tank; however if large numbers are kept in a spacious enough environment, it is possible to keep more than one. Tank mates must be selected carefully. Large numbers prevent a single fish from being the target of aggression. The females are a drab grey in comparison and slightly smaller.[6] They prefer rocky exhibits with coral sand.
Breeding
As with many other cichlids, the electric blue hap is a mouth-brooder. The recommended ratio of males to females is 1:4. The female broods for 2–3 weeks. When the fry are released, they are around 1 cm.[7]
Etymology
The specific name of this fish honours the German zoologist Ernst Ahl (1898-1945) who originally described this species in 1926 as Haplochromis serranoides but this name had already been used by Charles Tate Regan in 1922, although Regan's name is a synonym of Haplochromis spekii.[8]
References
- ↑ Konings, A.; Kazembe, J.; Makocho, P.; Mailosi, A. (2018). "Sciaenochromis ahli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T60965A47225751.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/60965/47225751. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Sciaenochromis ahli" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
- ↑ Konings, Ad (1993). A revision of the genus Sciaenochromis. 3. Cichlid Yearbook. pp. 28–36.
- ↑ Clarke, Matt (November 2004). "Sciaenochromis fryeri 'Iceberg'". Practical Fishkeeping. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/sciaenochromis-fryeri-iceberg/. "Erroneously sold as ahli in shops.".
- ↑ "Electric Blue Hap (Sciaenochromis ahli) Care Sheet". 25 September 2020. https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/electric-blue-hap-sciaenochromis-ahli-care-sheet.35033/. "You're much more likely to come across Sciaenochromis fryeri than S. ahli as S. ahli is rarely sold in the hobby."
- ↑ "Sciaenochromis fryeri". http://www.borstein.info/profiles/malawi/sciaenochromisfryeri.html.
- ↑ "Electric Blue Hap | Sciaenochromis ahli". http://www.alltropicalfish.com/content/view/75/117/.
- ↑ "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (p-y)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. 25 September 2018. http://www.etyfish.org/cichlidae5/.
Wikidata ☰ Q3231375 entry
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