Creators, fish stores, online sellers and breeders: get listed free while early spots get top placement. Get featured on Cichlid Nation
Create your tank profile
Deep Water Hap, Placidochromis electra
Lake Malawi · Species profile

Deep Water Hap care

A very gentle species that is not suited to a mbuna tank.

  • Up to about 8 inches, not counting the tailAdult size
  • 75 to 82 FTemperature

Food

A varied diet of live, frozen and dried foods, plus some vegetable matter such as spirulina flake.

Feeding guide

Tank mates

Peacocks, Copadichromis and other peaceful haps.

Compatibility guide

Best setup

A tank at least 4 feet long and 18 inches front to back, such as a 75 gallon. Sand, open swimming room and a few rock piles along the back, with hard alkaline water and good filtration. Peacocks sift sand for food, so avoid sharp gravel.

Shop the setup

Care basics

Placidochromis electra is a pale blue hap with dark vertical bars. Males become a brighter blue as they mature, and the species is valued for its calm nature.

Keep it with peacocks, Copadichromis and other peaceful Malawi species. It is peaceful with its own kind, but several females per male is best.

Quick facts

Scientific namePlacidochromis electra
GroupLake Malawi hap/peacock
Native toLake Malawi
Adult sizeUp to about 8 inches, not counting the tail
Tank sizeA tank at least 4 feet long and 18 inches front to back, such as a 75 gallon
Temperature75 to 82 F
pH7.6 to 8.8, hard water
TemperamentA very gentle species that is not suited to a mbuna tank.

Figures follow published species profiles such as Seriously Fish, and tank sizes are general guidance. Individual fish and local water vary, so test your water and ask your fish store about the specific fish you buy.

Ozzy the oscar holding a shopping bag
Shop the setup

Shop the Deep Water Hap setup

The tank, food, filter, heater and decor that suit Deep Water Hap, based on the care notes above.

Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current prices. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.

Gear We Recommend

Gear for Deep Water Hap

All gear
Best for: Most mid size cichlids

Cichlid staple pellets

A balanced daily food. Sinking pellets reach shy fish too.

Check price on Amazon
Best for: New World cichlids and oddballs

Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp

A weekly treat. Skip bloodworms for mbuna.

Check price on Amazon
Best for: Malawi and Tanganyika tanks

African cichlid sand

Aragonite based sand that helps hold a higher pH.

Check price on Amazon
Best for: Tanks 55 gallons and up

Canister filter

Moves lots of water and holds lots of media. The workhorse of most cichlid tanks.

Check price on Amazon

Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current prices. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.