Giant Haplochromis (Hemitilapia oxyrhyncha)

Scientific name: Hemitilapia oxyrhyncha Boulenger, 1902

The Giant Haplochromis (Hemitilapia oxyrhyncha) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–26°C (75–79°F). Native range: Africa, Endemic and occurring throughout Lake Malawi.

Giant Haplochromis care at a glance

Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)

Biology

Inhabits sandy bottoms with swards of Vallisneria. Feeds by scraping epiphytic algae from the leaves, grasping a leaf in its mouth and working along it.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Hemitilapia oxyrhyncha
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 20.0
Environment: Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: Endemic and occurring throughout Lake Malawi.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)