Cichlid Aquatics: Learn About Haplochromis sp. Fire

Haplochromis sp. Fire  

• Common name:  Fire Side, Ugandan Fire Side, Fire Red, and Ugandan Fire Red.
• Location and Lake collected from:  Ugandan side of Lake Victoria.
• Approximate size:  4 – 4.5 inches
• Food:  Not picky.  Mine eat flake, brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, and have even tried to eat smaller fish.  I have had a 2 inch female try to eat a 1.5 inch Julidochromis dickfeldi.  She had everything but the tail in her mouth until I helped remove the dickfeldi.  Mine have also eaten the Java Moss I have put in their aquariums.
• pH:  7.5 – 8.3
• Temperature:  76 – 82 degrees F.
• Breeding behavior:  Mouthbrooder.   Males defend their territory very aggressively.  Only one male per tank, and 3 or more females for each male are recommended.  Target fish are also recommended to help reduce aggression towards the females.  They like to have rocks and plants to hide in.   My females brood for 15 – 20 days and produce between 30 – 35 fry for a 2 inch female.  Males start to develop adult coloration at around 1.5 inches.  This species is not recommended as a tank mate for other Victorian Cichlids.  In my experience, they seem to want to crossbreed more easily than some of the other Victorian Cichlid Species.
• Care of the Fry:  Newly released fry can eat crushed flake food, baby brine shrimp, and other small foods.  The fry should be given several small feedings per day.  Spawns can be kept in a 20 gallon tank up to an inch in size.  Males start to develop adult coloration at about 1.5 inches.
• Tankmates:  I have kept mine in with Labidochromis sp. Hongi, Labidochromis sp. Mbamba,  Eretmodus cyanostictus, Neolamprologus tretocephalus juveniles(1.5 – 3 inch), and Psuedotropheus aurora without many problems.
• Tank size:  I have 1 male and 4 females in a 20 gallon long aquarium.

Further Reading

• Maintaining Your Freshwater Aquarium (2023 FAQ Part 4)
• Fixing Problems Of Your Aquarium Magnetic Impeller Driven Pumps (2023)
• Not A Picky Eater: Read About Pundamilia Pundamilia “Zebra Nyererei”
• Here Is How To Calculate The Volume And Surface Area Of Your Aquarium
• Apistogramma Panduro Photos
• Aquarium Species Profile: How To Care Labeotropheus Fuelleborni
• Saltwater Fish Extincted In Wild: Tips To Raise Yssichromis Argens
• What Size UV Sterilizer Do I Need? Freshwater & Saltwater UV Sterilizer Sizing Chart

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