Moderate
Copadichromis blue neon
24–27°C · pH 7.8–8.6 · 250L
£8.99
Striking Malawi peacock cichlid with fiery crest colouration, ideal for spacious African cichlid setups.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Copadichromis virginalis
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Striking Malawi peacock cichlid with fiery crest colouration, ideal for spacious African cichlid setups.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Copadichromis virginalis “Fire Crest” is an elegant, open-water cichlid from Lake Malawi — one of the graceful “utaka” that hunt plankton in the lake’s clear midwater. More peaceful than the rock-dwelling mbuna, breeding males take on a striking fiery crown of colour across the head and dorsal that gives this form its name. It is a superb choice for a spacious Malawi community with room to swim.
The body is streamlined and silvery, built for cruising open water, reaching around 17 cm. In display, dominant males flush with metallic blue over the face and a warm, fiery red-orange “crest” along the head and dorsal fin, while females and non-dominant males stay a demure silver. The overall impression is of a fast, shoaling fish that lights up dramatically when a male comes into condition.
Provide a long 250 litre-plus aquarium that prioritises open swimming space, with a sand base and some rockwork around the margins for structure and refuge. Malawi water chemistry applies — hard and alkaline at pH 7.8–8.6, 24–28°C — with strong, well-oxygenated filtration. Because this species naturally roams midwater, length and clear swimming lanes matter more than dense décor.
Relatively peaceful for a Malawi cichlid, “Fire Crest” is happiest in a group with a majority of females and mixes well with haps and peacocks of similar disposition. It is not suited to life among aggressive mbuna, which will harry it and monopolise food. Its semi-aggressive moments are largely confined to male display and spawning.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Aulonocara peacocks | Aggressive mbuna |
| Placidochromis and other calm haps | Very small fish that fit in the mouth |
| Other Copadichromis | Boisterous fin-nippers |
| Malawi Synodontis catfish | Soft, acidic-water species |
In the wild this is a micro-predator of zooplankton, so a diet of small sinking pellets, frozen mysis, cyclops and brine shrimp, alongside a quality flake, suits it best. Feed small portions several times a day rather than one heavy meal. As with most Malawi cichlids, avoid over-rich foods and never overfeed, which helps prevent bloat and keeps the water clean.
A maternal mouthbrooder, the female holds the eggs and developing fry in her mouth for around three weeks. Males court in open water, and spawning is quite achievable in a settled group with a good female ratio, giving keepers the reward of watching the male’s fiery breeding colours at their peak.
Give this fish length over clutter — open swimming lanes let a group school naturally and coax dominant males into their brightest “fire crest” display.
Every Copadichromis virginalis "Fire Crest" is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
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