SCIENTIFIC NAME: Haplochromis Venustus
SEXING: Males grow much more quickly and their color metamorphosis begins at 10 cm (4 inches), eight months after spawning.
FEEDING TYPE: Piscivore (meaning they eat other fish), but they can be fed pellets, flakes, frozen and live food.
COMPATIBILITY: Will eat any other fish it can conveniently swallow, should be kept in a tank at least 150 cm long.
BREEDING: spawns can be up to 200 eggs, but usualy rang from
50-120. Fry will grow rapidly but unevenly so the should be sorted in size. Young may start spawnig at 8 months but are rarely successful until they are a year - 14 months old. Mature females will spawn about every 8 weeks laying 100 - 120 eggs
SIZE: Maximum lenght 20 cm
HABITAT: Found over sandy substrates. Juveniles may be found in shallow water near rocks while adults go into the deeper regions with sandy substrates.
HUNTING TECHNIQUES: They use the technique of 'sleeping'. They lay on their sides and pretend to be a carcass. Newley born Mbuna's and other cichlids will try get their share of the "dead" but when they get close enough it either darts around and eats them or it opens its mouth and sucks them in.
WATER CHEMISTRY: Ph: 7.6-8.6
TEMPERATURE: 25-28 degrees Celsius
