Electric Blue Ahli

Although known in the hobby as the "ahli", the electric blue ahli is scientifically Sciaenochromis fryeri; the true S. ahli is a separate species rarely seen in aquariums. The intense blue that covers mature males from head to tail and the white leading edge of the dorsal fin make it one of the most loved haps in Malawi aquariums.

Its way of life differs from that of the mbuna: it patrols around the rocks hunting small fish, especially mbuna fry. As a result, any fish that fits in its mouth is at risk. Toward fish of its own size, however, it is relatively calm.

It lives along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi and in the transition zones where rocks and sand mix. It hunts small fish and fry that shelter in rock crevices. There are color differences between populations from different parts of the lake; in some males the anal fin is orange-red.

• Volume: at least 400 liters and 150 cm in length; it needs a long swimming area.
• Layout: Rock groups along the sides, a wide open area in the middle and a fine sand substrate.
• Water: Hard and alkaline (pH 7.8–8.5); aragonite substrate or Malawi salt.
• Maintenance: Strong filtration, weekly 30–50% water changes.

Carnivorous. A quality cichlid pellet should be the staple; frozen mysis, brine shrimp, krill and suitably sized pieces of fish meat can be offered. Feeding live feeder fish carries a disease risk and is not necessary. Bloodworms and foods containing mammalian meat can cause digestive problems.

Males display their colors while swimming in open water and can be territorial toward other males of their own species. It gets along well with haps and Aulonocara species of similar size. Kept in the same aquarium as aggressive mbuna, it becomes stressed and its colors fade.

Good companions: haps of similar size (Copadichromis borleyi, red empress, Placidochromis electra), Aulonocara species, blue dolphin cichlid, large Synodontis catfish suited to hard water.

Avoid: small mbuna and fry (they get hunted), aggressive mbuna, community fish, shrimp and snails.

• Harem: 1 male and 3 females; the females share the male's courtship pressure.
• All-male aquarium: It also does well in a setup where colorful males of different species are kept together; two males of the same species, however, will fight.
• It is recommended not to keep another hap male with a similar blue color in the same aquarium.

A mouthbrooder. The male courts on the sand or on a flat rock; the female picks up the eggs in her mouth and they are fertilized via the egg spots on the male's anal fin. The female carries 20–60 eggs for about 3 weeks. The fry grow on brine shrimp and crushed food in the first weeks; in the same aquarium as adults they may be eaten.

• Malawi bloat: wrong food and stress.
• Hole in the head: associated with insufficient water changes and a monotonous diet.
• Color fading: a sign of aggressive tankmates or poor water conditions.

Sexing is easy in mature fish: males are an intense blue, have a white-edged dorsal fin and prominent egg spots on the anal fin. Females are gray-brown with dark vertical bars. Juveniles resemble females; males begin to turn blue at around 8–10 cm.