Red Tail Haplochromis Species 44
Popular and Colorful Cichlid from Lake Victoria in Africa
Although the official name of this cichlid is Haplochromis sp. 44, the more common names are Red Tail and Thick Skin. This fish was once found in the shallow waters of the north and east coastlines of Lake Victoria, one of the Rift Lakes in Africa.
The introduction of the Nile Perch to Lake Victoria in the 1950s drove the Haplochromis to extinction, along with a few hundred more species of smaller cichlids. Some of these extinct fish can be found in surrounding swamps or bogs that are not deep enough for Nile Perch. The aquarium hobby has managed to perpetuate the existence of the Red Tail Cichlid in captivity.
Traits of the Red Tail Cichlid
The adult size of the Haplochromis sp. 44 is usually four to five inches. The male will start to develop its colors when it is less than one inch long. The body is dark blue around the mouth and eye area, with black vertical stripes running towards the tail. The color fades to gold and yellow with paler stripes near the tail fin. The fins are a mixture of dark gold and red.
As the Red Tail Cichlid matures, its colors change. When it is young, the blue and black colors are more predominant. After a couple of years, the orange and red coloration begin to dominate. The female is less colorful. It has a pale gold body, faint stripes and red-trimmed fins. When spawning, the stripes on the female become more visible.
The Haplochromis sp. 44 is very aggressive especially when sharing an aquarium with its own species. When agitated due to fighting over territory or jealousy, its colors become even more brilliant. If two or more males are in the aquarium, one of them will be the dominant male and have the brighter colors.
Freshwater Aquarium Conditions for the Red Tail Cichlid
The minimum aquarium size should be at least 30 gallons and it should be equipped with caves made out of rock for hiding places. Driftwood is another recommended decoration but plants are not practical because they will get destroyed. In order to show off the beautiful colors of the Red Tail Cichlid, a light-colored substrate should be used.
The aquarium should be well-filtered with 25% water changes done every second week. Cichlid salt should be added in order to keep the water buffered in the minerals needed by the Red Tail Cichlid.
Water readings should be:
- PH = 7 to 8.5
- DH = 20
- Temperature = 74 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
The Red Tail Cichlid is not a picky eater. It can be fed flake food, pellets, freeze-dried food and live foods such as baby brine shrimp or white worms or blood worms. It also likes beef heart and small bits of seafood.
Breeding the Red Tail Cichlid
This fish is a prolific breeder and can start to breed at a young age, even when it’s only one inch long. When breeding a Red Tail Cichlid, it’s best to keep two females to every male, as the male tends to get very aggressive towards the female. At least with two females in the aquarium, the aggression is shared.
The Red Tail Cichlid is a mouth brooder. The female begins by laying eggs and then the male fertilizes the eggs. The female picks up the eggs and holds them in her mouth until they hatch. Approximately 18 days later, the fry are released but only for brief periods in the night and then the mother takes the fry back in her mouth. The fry are also gathered up by the mother when they are in danger.
Approximately 25 days later, the fry become free swimming and do not go back into the mother’s mouth. They can be fed baby brine shrimp and finely-ground flake food.
It is highly recommended to have an extra aquarium on hand for the mother. She needs a break in between spawns. If the mother is not allowed to rest, she will constantly breed and eventually die from exhaustion.
The Haplochromis sp. 44 is widely available in the aquarium trade and fishkeepers buy this fish due to its coloration being almost unmatched by any other freshwater fish.
Thick Skin or Red Tail Haplochromis Cichlid
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