Otopharynx lithobates Breeding Guide

Breeding Otopharynx lithobates, the Yellow Blaze hap from Lake Malawi: harem spawning over flat stones and up to four weeks of maternal mouthbrooding.

Overview

Otopharynx lithobates is a haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, sometimes called the Yellow Blaze or sulphur-headed hap. It reaches a length of 16 cm (6.3 in) TL. The specific epithet lithobates means rock-dweller, reflecting its life among caves and crevices in the rocky parts of the lake.

Sexing

Males grow larger than females and are far more colourful, breeding males displaying neon-blue patterning together with a deep yellow-orange colour on the head and dorsal fin. Females remain plainer, so the largest, most strongly coloured fish in a group are males.

Conditioning

Condition broodstock with plenty of live and frozen foods. Recommended breeding water is pH around 8.2-8.5 and 25-27 C (77-80 F). Provide rockwork with caves to match its natural rock-dwelling habitat.

Breeding Setup

The species should be spawned in a harem of one male and at least three females. A tank with a footprint of roughly 122 cm (48 in) is suitable, furnished with rockwork and some flat stones to serve as spawning sites.

Spawning Behaviour & Trigger

Otopharynx lithobates is a maternal mouthbrooder. The male displays in intense colour around a flat stone or chosen site, the female lays her eggs and collects them into her mouth, and the male fertilises the brood as she does so.

Egg & Fry Care

The female carries 25-50 eggs for up to four weeks before releasing the free-swimming fry. The young are large enough to take brine shrimp nauplii from the moment they become free-swimming, and grow steadily with frequent small feeds. As a cave- and crevice-dweller the species spawns most readily where the male has rocky cover, so a holding female can be moved to a quiet maturation tank with similar refuges if separate rearing is preferred.

Common Challenges

Compared with most haps this is a smaller, more peaceful species, so the main requirements are stable hard alkaline water and ample rocky cover. As a maternal mouthbrooder the holding female fasts while incubating, which can leave her in reduced condition, so good feeding beforehand is important and she should not be disturbed during brooding to avoid premature release or swallowing of the brood. Providing the male with caves and flat stones for display also reduces the chance that courtship aggression is concentrated on a single female.