Placidochromis electra, Deepwater Hap
Placidochromis electra inhabits Lake Malawi in the wild. The fish can be found around Likoma Island and Cape Mara, between Chiwindi and Lumbaulo, from Lumnessi to the Malawi border and along the Malawi coast to Nekete. The fish hold on sandy substrate at depths of 7-15 m.
Placidochromis electra males have an attractive appearance. The head is blue, with transverse black stripes running along the entire body, which become more faded as they approach the root of the caudal plumage, and are most contrasting near the head. Some males are entirely blue in coloration, which becomes more faded near the tail section. Males grow larger and much more colorful than females. Females reach a size of 15 centimeters and males about 20 centimeters.
Deepwater Hap is considered one of the largest Malawian cichlids, but is characterized by a mild temperament and should not be kept with more aggressive fish species. Adult fish tend to be quite expensive, so it is more appropriate to start with a group of 6-8 young fish. For 1 adult male there should be 2-3 females.
An aquarium with a volume of 200 liters or more is suitable for keeping fish. At the bottom you need to place piles of rocks, grottoes and other shelters, but you need to take care of the presence of open areas for free swimming fish. As a substrate must necessarily be coarse-grained river sand. Plants in the aquarium can not be planted.
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Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 10-25°, acidity pH 7,5-8,5. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water.
Placidochromis electra is an omnivorous fish that will eat most of the food offered. Fish are fed live, frozen and dry food with vegetable supplements in the form of spirulina flakes, blanched spinach and others. Feed is given 1-2 times a day.
Reproduction
Spawn Placidochromis electra in a species aquarium with a sandy bottom and several shelters in the form of caves of rocks. Water temperature should be around 28° C, and acidity pH 8,0-8,5. Before spawning fish abundantly fed a variety of feed.
During the spawning season, the male occupies part of the territory in the aquarium and drives away from it other fish. He digs a hole in the sand, in which later the female will lay eggs. Then he is trying to attract the female in every way possible showing her his bright coloring. When the female pays attention to the courtship of the male, she swims up to the spawning site and deposits eggs there (about 50 eggs). Immediately after spawning, the male fertilizes the eggs, and the female immediately collects them in her mouth.
The eggs incubate in the female's mouth for three weeks. During this time, she does not feed. During this time, the female should not be disturbed, because during fright she may swallow or spit out all the eggs.
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The hatched fry are fed Artemia nauplii at least 4 times a day.
Life expectancy of Placidochromis electra in aquarium conditions is about 10 years.
