HomeFreshwater aquarium fishAfrican cichlidsSpindle hap Spindle hap (Protomelas taeniolatus) Scientific name: Protomelas taeniolatus Trewavas, 1935 The Spindle hap (Protomelas taeniolatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows to about 14 cm (5.5 in). It is aggressive and needs a tank of at least 285 L (75 US gal), water at 22–27°C (72–81°F) and a pH of 7.5–8.0. Native range: Africa, Endemic to Lake Malawi. Spindle hap care at a glanceTemperamentAggressiveAdult size14 cm (5.5 in)Minimum tank285 L (75 US gal)Temperature22–27°C (72–81°F)pH7.5–8.0Hardness9–19 dGH (161–339 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 31. Resembles P. fenestratus in form and in ecology, but differs from it in having a larger eye and consequently narrower preorbital, in the more numerous teeth in the upper jaw and on the lower pharyngeal, the higher number of gill rakers, the anterior of which, although short, are acute and well defined and in the higher modal number of dorsal spines. Differs from P. virgatus in the absence of enlarged pharyngeal teeth.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameProtomelas taeniolatusFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length11.3EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Endemic to Lake Malawi where it is widely distributed.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More african cichlidsMalawi eyebiterDimidiochromis compressicepsSuper VC-10 hapPlacidochromis milomoAulonocara rostratumNkhomo-benga peacockAulonocara baenschiAulonocara Fort MaguireAulonocara hansbaenschiFairy cichlidAulonocara jacobfreibergiSee all african cichlids Can it live with...?Spindle hap and Aulonocara chizumuluSpindle hap and Aulonocara Fort MaguireSpindle hap and Blue orchid aulonocaraSpindle hap and Emperor cichlidSpindle hap and Flavescent peacockSpindle hap and Greenface aulonocaraSpindle hap and Haplochromis borleyi redfinSpindle hap and Malawi eyebiterSpindle hap and Nkhomo-benga peacockSpindle hap and Redbelly tilapiaSpindle hap and Super VC-10 hap SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026