Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Electric Blue Hap
Sciaenochromis fryeri Konings, 1993
Also called Electric blue ahli, Sciaenochromis ahli (name long used in the trade)
From Lake Malawi, East Africa: widespread along rocky shores and rock-sand transition zones, typically at depths of about 10-40 m.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Medium, streamlined hap cichlid
A sleek, torpedo-shaped predator. Adult males glow an intense electric blue that brightens or fades with mood, while females are much plainer. Several regional forms differ in fin patterning.13
Personality what they are like
Robust but not especially quarrelsome. It mixes well with other non-mbuna Malawi cichlids of similar size.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active swimmer that needs open water as well as rocky cover.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Large tank with hard, alkaline water, efficient filtration and regular water changes.1
Home where they are happiest
Minimum base about 150 x 45 cm (around 300 litres) with rocky caves, open swimming space and a sandy bottom. Temperature 24-28 °C, pH 7.6-8.8, hardness 10-25 dGH.1
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A fish-eater in the wild. In the aquarium it takes a varied mix of quality live, frozen and dried foods; plant matter is not needed and mammal meat should be avoided.12
Company who they like around
Keep one male with several females. Good companions include peaceful haps such as Nimbochromis venustus and Cyrtocara moorii; avoid other blue fish such as peacocks, which it may cross with.1
The story where it all began
For years this fish was sold as Sciaenochromis ahli, a different and less common species. Ad Konings described it properly in 1993, naming it after fisheries scientist Geoffrey Fryer, but the 'electric blue ahli' trade name has stuck.31
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is named after Geoffrey Fryer, a pioneering researcher of African lake fishes.3
- 2
Much aquarium literature still calls it Sciaenochromis ahli, which is actually a separate species.1
- 3
A male's blue shade changes with his mood.1
- 4
Females brood around 50 to 70 eggs in their mouth for about three weeks.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 20 June 2018)2
- Taxonomy
- Described by Konings in 1993; a haplochromine cichlid of family Cichlidae3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Electric Blue Hap. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Sciaenochromis fryeri seriouslyfish.comused for range, size, care, water, diet, behaviour, colour, breeding, naming
- FishBase: Sciaenochromis fryeri fishbase.seused for distribution, depth, max length, diet, IUCN
- Wikipedia: Sciaenochromis fryeri en.wikipedia.orgused for describer, etymology, trade name history
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.