Fish Data : Electric Blue Cichlid

Common Name(s): Electric Blue, Electric Blue Hap

Scientific Name: Sciaenochromis fryeri

Origin(s): Lake Malawi (Africa)

    These fish is a popular aquarium fish due to its colouration. because of its intense electric blue coloring. However it has an amazing history of repeated ms-identification. it was first imported for the aquarium hobby as Haplochromis jacksoni. This was quite confusing since these are two totally different species. Then finally it was officially described by AD Konings in 1993. These fish are Haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi and one of four species in the genus Sciaenochromi, but is the most well-known. Other common names it is known by are the Electric Blue and Hap Ahli. They are different from the Mbuna or rock-dwelling cichlids, as they are open water dwellers occurring in areas where the rocks meet the sand. Though not as aggressive or territorial as a Mbuna, the Electric Blue still prefers being around rocky areas where they hide in caves or cracks looking for small fish or some little live foods that they can hunt and eat them.

Aquarium Setup :

    In the aquarium this fish is moderately aggressive and predatory. They are easy to care for as long as its are not overfed. ( Should be fed only 1 – 2 time per day is enough )It also needs the water conditions and tank set up is to its liking. They are readily breed and the fry are easy to raise. The silver colored female may not seem like this is the best fish for a pet. But the brilliant blues of the male more than make up for the lack of color of the females. The females are handsome fish in their own right as well, in fact some females can eventually develop a faded light blue coloring when mature.

   Diet: These fish are omnivorous and can eat many variety of foods including assorted freeze dried foods, beef heart, blood worms, brine shrimp, commercial Cichlid pellets and flakes, daphnia, frozen plankton, glass worms, live fish and tubifex worms , etc.

Tank Size: Their tank size should be about 55g  or Larger  

Tank Region: Mainly bottom dwelling fish. 

Breeding : These fish is a mouth brooder as with most lake Malawi Cichlids. It is generally recommended that the male be placed in a breeding tank with several females A recommended ratio is 3-4 females to one Male. During spawning the Electric Blue may become quite territorial and aggressive the process is very educational and very fun to watch if you can catch them in action. This fish will often breed in caves or hides with the male attracting the ovulating female to his nest whereby ovulation and fertilization of the eggs takes place. The female with then begin to collect the eggs in her mouth where they are held for hatching. This is the reasoning as for the "egg spot" on many Cichlid anal fins, as the female collects the eggs and attempts to grab the egg spot fertilization is assured. After breeding the female keeps the fry in her mouth for three to four weeks The eggs will hatch usually 7 days there after. Fry should be fed brine shrimp initially and may begin feeding on ground commercial foods within a week or so. Stripping the female of the fry may be necessary and can be done safely around ten days after they hatch. This process can be hard on the fish and should only be done by the more experienced fish keeper.

Credit : 

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/ElectricBlueHap.php

http://www.freshwatermadness.com/t577-species-profile-sciaenochromis-fryeri-electric-blue-electric-blue-hap

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/s_fryeri.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Blue_Hap

http://www.google.co.th/imgres?hl=th&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1280&bih=886&tbm=isch&tbnid=5AWERXsIbx51VM:&imgrefurl=http://www.petfish.net/Electric_Blue.htm&docid=Is4Jzvkue0CobM&imgurl=http://www.petfish.net/pix/electic_blue2_blair.jpg&w=800&h=628&ei=Wiv8UNzCC8eUrgfQn4HIAg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:8,s:0,i:105&iact=rc&dur=1023&sig=102730247700477325283&page=1&tbnh=174&tbnw=199&start=0&ndsp=19&tx=79&ty=76

http://www.fishmartthailand.com/product.detail_456015_en_2851274



**************************************************************

  If you need to support this webblog , you can buy some fish article in

this link Thankyou very much for your kindly support ^ _ ^