Yellow Blaze care guide
Yellow Blaze (Otopharynx lithobates) — minimum tank 350 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Otopharynx lithobates ("Sulfurhead Hap" / "Yellow Blaze") is a Lake Malawi haplochromine in which adult males display a deep blue body with a vivid yellow stripe along the upper back and dorsal fin. Adults reach about 15 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Otopharynx
- Scientific name: Otopharynx lithobates
- Common synonyms: Lithobates, Z-Rock
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi, where it inhabits sandy bays, sediment-rich flats and the sand-rock interface of the open lake. The water is hard and alkaline (pH 7.8-8.6, KH 6-15) and warm year round; large adults forage across open sand and through rock outcrops.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L (92.5 US gal)
- Adult size: 12-15 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 7-10 years
Diet
In the wild a carnivore or specialised feeder depending on species — many haps eat small fish, invertebrates or sift sand for hidden prey. In aquaria a moderate-protein cichlid pellet supplemented with frozen krill, mysis and chopped earthworm maintains condition and colour; vegetable matter is not the main component as it is for mbuna.
Compatibility
Less aggressive but larger than mbuna; best kept in spacious 350+ L tanks with one male and several females, alongside other peaceful Malawi haps and peacocks. Avoid mixing with rock-dwelling mbuna, whose constant aggression suppresses these larger fish, and avoid similar-coloured congeners to prevent hybridisation.
Breeding
A polygamous maternal mouthbrooder. The male defends a sand "scrape" or a small territory near a rock, displays his nuptial colours and entices females to spawn; the female collects the eggs into her mouth and incubates them for about three weeks before releasing fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: see species page. Most haps are widely distributed in Lake Malawi and assessed as Least Concern; localised forms with narrow ranges are more vulnerable to environmental change.
Otopharynx lithobates Breeding Guide
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.