INFO - "ELECTRIC BLUE"

NAME: Electric Blue - Haplochromis Ahli

GENUS: Sciaenochromis

SPECIES: Fryeri

ENDEMIC TO: Lake Malawi - AFRICA

MAX SIZE: 20 cm

WATER PARAMETERS: 24-28C / PH : 7.2 to 8.5

CLASS: Mouth brooding Mbuna

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: This is one of the African species which is distinctively sexually dimorphic. Males colour up to be a brilliant blue where females remain the dull brown with a light blue sheen over the scales. Males may contain egg spots or the presence of orange and yellow colours in the anal fin is possible. Males generally acquire a dense white blaze through their dorsal fin and head region however this latter trait is specific to certain morphs from different locations. Diagnosis of juvenile fish at approximately 8cm from their vents is possible and easy to further identify.

TEMPERAMENT: Electric Blue males can will defend their territory very well. At their most dominant peak they will also display their strongest colours. Juveniles as young as 6cm may seek status in the aquarium and begin developing their blue colours. Their aggression is not in the form of constant harassment but as with most african cichlids which are harem breeders, the presence of more females aids in better chances of survival.

DIET REQUIREMENTS: Electric Blues are opportunistic piscivores. Their diet in the wild would consist of predominantly insects, small fish and small invertebrates. In captivity they readily take dry foods (sinking pellets, flakes), frozen blood worms/brine shrimp and live foods. Keep in mind to allow them variation by supplementing their regular diet with the occasional live and or frozen foods. These fish are not fussy eaters and will find any prepared diets as palatable as the next.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

• Sciaenochromis Fryeri has various colour variants. Depending on their locations through out the lake, some strains have a white blaze from the start of the dorsal rays extended all the way down to the tip of the mouth. Other strains have only a white blaze through the top of its dorsal fin (thickness of blaze again varies) The third most common strain is one that possesses a dark orange almost red colour in the anal fin but less colours in the dorsal region.
  
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• Current data in relation to this family details several identified species such as psammophilus, nyassae and benthicola. From memory haplochromis ahli was re-named as scienochromis fryeri, so the new information available would be updated discoveries.
  
• Thrives in habitat with plenty of caves to defend.
• Can be housed with hardy aquarium plants such as anubias/vallisneria/java fern.
• Males and females all start off brown in colour.
  
• Differentiating males from females is possible at a relatively young age. At 5-6cm males are inclined to have a defined white line in their dorsal fin. If dominance is allowed colour will be showing through these young males too. Females will almost always have a dark brown line through their dorsal fins.
• Electric Blues may be bred in pairs, trios or colonies just depending on the amount of space you have available.
• Pairs residing in communal aquariums can also successfully spawn.
• An adult mouth brooding female may even hold in excess of 50 eggs.
• From spawning date, fry should be free swimming after 12 days depending on water temperature.
• Electric Blues can begin breeding at a relatively young age. Even small juveniles at 8cm may hold small mouthfuls of ten fry.
• Easy to house and rear. Raise temperatures and feed live foods to optimise breeding.
• This species is very easy to breed in optimum water conditions.
• It is recommended to not house this species together with Aulonocaras as interbreeding is common. S.Fryeri males will eagerly seek females that are in similar appearance with his own species.
  
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• Electric Blue males are a gorgeous addition to any aquarium. They have been a popular species to keep for many generations as the dense blue colours they display are remarkable.
• Many colour enhancing foods are available to aid development of juvenile fish.
  

photos courtesy of rick-sam borstein and plecos.com