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Haplochromis hap (Mylochromis melanotaenia) — Cichlidae

Haplochromis hap

Mylochromis melanotaenia
Family: Cichlidae

The Haplochromis hap (Mylochromis melanotaenia) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The striped Malawi cichlid is a cichlid from Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate, silver-blue body with an oblique dark longitudinal stripe, characteristic of the genus Mylochromis. As a bottom-dweller it lives over sand and transitional bottoms and probes the sand with its mouth for small invertebrates, snails and insect larvae. It is a mouthbrooder. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Haplochromis hap?

The Haplochromis hap has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Haplochromis hap live?

The Haplochromis hap lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Haplochromis hap get?

The Haplochromis hap grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Haplochromis hap dangerous to humans?

No, the Haplochromis hap is harmless to humans.

Is the Haplochromis hap edible?

Yes, the Haplochromis hap is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Streep-malawicichlide sourced
English name
Haplochromis hap sourced
Scientific name
Mylochromis melanotaenia
Family
Cichlidae
Other names
Happy sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Mylochromis

More from the family Cichlidae

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