Placidochromis electra

Placidochromis electra, also known in the hobby as the "deepwater hap", is a medium-sized, calm Malawi hap. Mature males take on a deep blue adorned with dark vertical bars. Females, on the other hand, are silvery gray in tone, with faint bars and a plain appearance.

Its temperament is one of the most docile in this group: males display their colors to each other but rarely get into serious fights. This makes it a good addition to a calm hap and Aulonocara aquarium.

It lives around Likoma Island in Lake Malawi and along the Mozambique shore, in relatively deep water where sandy and rocky areas mix. In the wild it has been observed following large fish that dig through the sand and picking up the small invertebrates they expose. It roams in groups.

• Volume: at least 400 liters and 150 cm in length for a group.
• Layout: A wide area of fine sand with rock groups along the sides; open swimming space is important.
• Water: Hard and alkaline (pH 7.8–8.5); aragonite substrate or Malawi salt.
• Maintenance: Strong filtration, weekly 30–50% water changes.

Carnivorous; in the wild it feeds on small invertebrates in the sand. A sinking cichlid pellet should be the staple; it is varied with frozen mysis, brine shrimp and cyclops. Bloodworms and foods containing mammalian meat can lead to Malawi bloat.

A social and calm species; it forms a loose hierarchy within the group. In the same aquarium as aggressive mbuna it is bullied and its colors fade. It may eat very small fish that fit in its mouth.

Good companions: Aulonocara species, Copadichromis borleyi, red empress, electric blue ahli, blue dolphin cichlid, Synodontis catfish suited to hard water.

Avoid: aggressive mbuna, large predators, community fish, shrimp and snails.

• Harem: 1 male and 3–4 females.
• More than one male: Thanks to its calm temperament, two males can be kept in a large aquarium; the males display their colors to each other, but fights are rare.
• Group: 6 or more fish bring out more natural and relaxed behavior.

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 20–40 eggs for about 3 weeks. The fry grow on crushed food and brine shrimp.

• Malawi bloat: wrong food and stress.
• Bullying: loss of appetite and fading colors when kept with aggressive tankmates.
• Hole in the head: associated with insufficient water changes.

Mature males are deep blue with dark bars, have longer fins and carry egg spots on the anal fin. Females are silvery gray or light gray-blue, and their bars stay faint. Juveniles resemble females; males color up slowly.