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No federal permit to keepElectric Blue
Sciaenochromis fryeri
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Sciaenochromis fryeri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is found along the rocky coastal areas at depths of 10 to 40 metres (33 to 131 ft).
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.5 in / 11.5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 59 × 18 in (roughly 80 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–82 °F, pH 7.6–8.8, 10–25 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Form networks of caves using piles of rockwork in much of the aquarium, leaving some open areas for swimming.”
- Diet: “A predatory species in nature, S.”
- Tankmates: “Not especially aggressive although it is quite robust.”
- Breeding: “Not particularly difficult.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lake Malawi peacocks and haps
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Open water and sand of Lake Malawi. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8–8.6), a long tank (5 ft+ for larger haps) with open sand and some rock.
- Generally less aggressive than mbuna; males color up best with several females.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–82°F |
Diet
- For Aulonocara stuartgranti, use small prepared foods with some vegetable content and varied small live/frozen invertebrates. Match other haps to their own feeding ecology.
Health watch
- Do not diagnose bloat from a label such as “mbuna-style food”; Aulonocara stuartgranti diets can include vegetable foods. Match food and tankmates to the species.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This is the bright-blue fish widely sold in the aquarium trade as the "electric blue hap", a common name also applied to the lighter blue and much less common Sciaenochromis ahli. This fish can reach a length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in) SL. The specific name honours Geoffrey Fryer (b.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Sciaenochromis fryeri” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in lakes. Stays near the bottom. Inhabits rocky coasts of Lake Malawi. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, depth 10–40 m. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 88°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 62°F (down to 56°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 71–76°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 67–69% on average (driest month about 56%) |
| Rainfall | about 1210 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 11 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Sciaenochromis fryeri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is found along the rocky coastal areas at depths of 10 to 40 m. This is the bright-blue fish widely sold in the aquarium trade as the "electric blue hap", a common name also applied to the lighter blue and much less common Sciaenochromis ahli. This fish can reach a length of 11.5 cm SL. The specific name honours Geoffrey Fryer (b. 1927) who was Fisheries Research Officer, Joint Fisheries Research Organisation of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Inhabits rocky coasts of Lake Malawi. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 59 × 18 in (about 80 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Aulonocara stuartgranti Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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