Spindle Hap Cichlid (Protomelas taeniolatus)

Choose this cichlid for a planned Lake Malawi aquarium

The Spindle Hap Cichlid (Protomelas taeniolatus) is a freshwater member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. FishBase records a maximum length of 11.3 cm total length. It suits a Malawi keeper who can provide hard, alkaline water, a substantial aquarium, open swimming room and a carefully screened Malawi community. It is not a choice for a small, mixed tropical community.

Plan around approximately 205 litres with a 120 × 45 cm base. Seriously Fish gives that aquarium volume and footprint for this species. Keep the routine aquarium at 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH. The temperature sits within both FishBase’s recorded 24–26°C environment and the 24–28°C aquarium range from Seriously Fish. For pH and hardness, the species ranges from Seriously Fish overlap OATA’s Malawi-cichlid group guidance at pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH.

Match the aquarium to its natural behaviour

In Lake Malawi, this fish inhabits shallow, sediment-free rocky habitat. FishBase describes it feeding on aufwuchs attached to rocks, but also taking small invertebrates, including zooplankton when this is abundant. In the aquarium, combine rock piles and caves with open swimming areas and use a high-fibre diet led by vegetable matter.

Seriously Fish describes the species as peaceful but more robust than other members of its genus. Males are very territorial, so keep one male with several females when the sexes are known. More than one male requires a very large aquarium. Its recorded IUCN category is Least Concern, which describes the wild species and does not change the need for careful aquarium welfare.

Decide from the essentials

• Adult-size figure: 11.3 cm total length.
• Aquarium plan: approximately 205 litres with a 120 × 45 cm base.
• Routine water: 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH.
• Social plan: one male with several females when sexes are known, within a screened Malawi community.
• Main food: high-fibre vegetable matter, with suitable invertebrate foods as supplements.

Choose the dispatch size without confusing it with adult growth

One purchase supplies one Spindle Hap Cichlid. The live size selector shows 3 - 4 cm, 4 - 5 cm and 6 - 7 cm. The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. Use the selector to choose the dispatch size, but prepare the aquarium around the adult fish, its territory and the full community before ordering.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Spindle Hap Cichlid listing has no sex-guaranteed option. Do not build a fixed male-to-female stocking plan around colour, body size or a gallery image. Apply the one-male-with-several-females arrangement only after the fish can be identified reliably within the aquarium.

The gallery images are representative, based on reference photographs of this species, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal. Use the images to understand the elongated cichlid shape and general appearance, not to predict the colour, sex or individual markings of the animal supplied.

Check whether the aquarium fits

The routine is straightforward once the aquarium is established, but the combination of hard alkaline water, territorial males, dietary control and deliberate Malawi stocking requires more planning than a general community aquarium. Measure the aquarium base, test the source water and decide how aggression would be managed before choosing a dispatch size.

Plan the aquarium around the adult size and footprint

Use 11.3 cm total length as the adult-size figure. FishBase records that maximum for male or unsexed Protomelas taeniolatus. Plan the aquarium from the Seriously Fish footprint below rather than from the dispatch size, and do not reduce it.

Start with an aquarium of approximately 205 litres and a base measuring 120 × 45 cm. The base matters because the layout must hold rock piles and caves while retaining open space between them. A nominally similar volume with a much smaller base does not follow the stated footprint. Measure the usable base after allowing for internal equipment and arrange the principal swimming lane before adding decorative rockwork.

Allocate the footprint in a practical order

1. Mark out open swimming space. Seriously Fish calls for open areas between rock piles, so avoid filling the entire base with caves.
2. Add several rocky refuges. Piles of rocks should form multiple caves and hiding places rather than one defensible structure.
3. Leave open sand. Seriously Fish describes a sandy substrate as ideal for this species.
4. Check the community plan. The aquarium must accommodate the territories and swimming needs of every Malawi cichlid, not just this fish.

More than one male changes the space decision substantially. Seriously Fish says a very large aquarium is required to keep more than one male. Do not treat approximately 205 litres as permission for two males. If the intended group may include multiple males, choose a different stocking plan or provide a substantially larger aquarium before the fish mature.

The same caution applies to a crowded Malawi community. OATA recommends at least 200 litres for a reasonably sized Malawi community, while the species profile uses approximately 205 litres and a 120 × 45 cm base. Those figures are starting dimensions, not a fixed capacity for any number of fish. Final stocking depends on species, sex ratio, territorial behaviour, filtration and the physical arrangement of the aquarium.

Keep hard alkaline water within the shared ranges

Keep the aquarium at 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH. Use those values as the routine operating range rather than aiming at an edge. A reading of 25°C, pH 8.2 and 15 dGH sits comfortably inside all three targets. A temperature of 27°C sits inside the wider aquarium range from Seriously Fish but outside FishBase’s recorded 24–26°C environment, so bring it back towards the shared range.

The pH and hardness targets are also deliberate overlaps. Seriously Fish gives pH 7.6–8.8 and hardness of 10–25 dGH for the species. OATA gives pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH for Malawi cichlids as a group. Keeping pH 8.0–8.6 and hardness 12–18 dGH stays inside both. For example, pH 7.8 fits the wider species range but misses the narrower Malawi target used here.

Measure before making a stocking decision

• Temperature: check that normal heater operation holds 24–26°C without repeated swings outside the range.
• pH: compare the aquarium reading with the target after the aquarium has been prepared and matured.
• General hardness: confirm 12–18 dGH rather than assuming that a high pH always means the hardness also fits.
• Waste values: ammonia and nitrite must both be zero before fish are added.

Use our water chemistry guide to understand what each test measures. Record actual readings instead of relying on descriptions such as hard or alkaline. If the source water repeatedly falls outside the target, resolve how the aquarium will be maintained within range before choosing livestock.

Consistency matters alongside the numbers. OATA notes that larger aquaria provide more stable temperature and water quality. Make changes through the planned maintenance routine and test afterwards, rather than allowing the aquarium to drift to an edge and then making an abrupt correction. The goal is a repeatable set of readings that remains suitable between weekly checks.

Build rock cover, open water and adequate filtration

Arrange piles of rocks to create several caves and hiding places, then preserve open swimming areas between them. Use a sandy substrate. The rock piles follow the species profile and reflect the shallow, rocky, sediment-free habitat recorded by FishBase. Several separated refuges give fish more choices than one dominant cave, while open space allows the Spindle Hap to move without every route passing through a territory.

Malawi cichlids will often dig and rearrange the substrate, which will uproot any plants present. Treat plants as secondary to the required sand, rock cover and swimming room. Check the layout after digging and restore access to caves or open routes when substrate has been moved.

Size the filter for the real aquarium

For an aquarium of approximately 205 litres, Seriously Fish recommends turnover of four to five times the aquarium volume each hour. That works out to a filter rating of about 820–1,025 litres per hour. Check the manufacturer’s rating and allow for the fact that the aquarium still needs open swimming room after equipment and décor are installed.

The RSPCA explains why a well-established biological filter is essential: fish release toxic ammonia, beneficial bacteria convert it to nitrite, and further bacteria convert nitrite to the safer nitrate. Prepare and mature that biological filtration before livestock arrives. Our first tropical aquarium guide sets out the preparation sequence.

Plan heating and oxygen together

Seriously Fish estimates roughly 125–175 W across two heaters for an aquarium around 205 litres when the room is approximately 20°C. Treat that as a worked example tied to those conditions, then confirm that the installed equipment actually holds 24–26°C. Do not choose heater power from aquarium volume alone while ignoring room temperature.

OATA recommends oversized filtration and strong aeration for crowded Malawi communities because the fish need adequate dissolved oxygen and the biological filter must process the community’s waste. Keep the filter unobstructed, check its flow and arrange the outlet or separate aeration so that water circulates through the aquarium without removing the open swimming area.

Make high-fibre vegetable foods the dietary foundation

Feed a high-fibre diet in which vegetable matter forms a large proportion. FishBase records the wild fish grazing aufwuchs attached to rocks and also taking small invertebrates, including zooplankton when abundant. Seriously Fish translates that pattern into aquarium feeding advice: use vegetable foods such as spirulina flake or blanched spinach and lettuce as the foundation, then add suitable live or frozen invertebrate foods as supplements.

Useful supplements named for this species include brine shrimp, Daphnia and bloodworm. Rotate them to provide variety without turning every meal into a rich animal-based feed. Seriously Fish warns that meaty foods such as beefheart are detrimental to the fish’s long-term health, so avoid them. The species is also described as greedy and prone to becoming overweight, making portion control as important as ingredient choice.

Use a simple twice-daily routine

OATA advises feeding Malawi cichlids twice a day and offering only what they can eat within a few minutes. Base most feeds on the vegetable foods and use the named invertebrate foods only as supplements. Variety should change the ingredient, not increase the total amount.

• If food remains after a few minutes: reduce the next portion so uneaten food does not break down into toxic waste.
• If body condition is increasing: reduce portions and review how often rich supplements are being used.
• If the fish ignores a new vegetable food: offer a smaller amount within the same short feeding window rather than leaving it in the aquarium.
• If several fish rush one feeding point: watch whether every intended fish feeds while still keeping the total portion within the few-minute limit.

Match the food to this species rather than applying one diet to every Malawi cichlid. OATA notes that Malawi diets vary widely, from more herbivorous mbuna to more predatory utaka. For Protomelas taeniolatus, the recorded aufwuchs feeding and the species profile both support the high-fibre approach.

Observe appetite as part of the health check. A sudden reduction in feeding interest can accompany a wider change in behaviour, breathing or water quality. Test the aquarium rather than trying to restore appetite by adding extra food, because surplus food increases the waste load on the filter.

Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero through weekly maintenance

Test the aquarium at least weekly and keep ammonia and nitrite at zero milligrams per litre. OATA says nitrate should not exceed 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level. If the tap water measures 10 mg/L nitrate, that guidance makes 30 mg/L the upper aquarium limit; it is a ceiling, not a target. Record the tap-water baseline so the aquarium result can be interpreted correctly.

Change 25% of the water at least once every week. Use a siphon to remove solid waste from the substrate and treat replacement tap water with a conditioner that removes chlorine or chloramine before it enters the aquarium. Match replacement water to the planned conditions so that routine maintenance supports stable temperature and chemistry.

Protect the biological filter

• Check for blockages: reduced flow can compromise circulation and waste processing.
• Clean only when needed: rinse filter media lightly in water removed from the aquarium during the partial change.
• Protect the beneficial bacteria: rinse filter media in water removed from the aquarium, never under the tap.
• Retest after a concerning result: confirm the reading and check the aquarium before adding more fish or food.

Use the water matcher to compare measured temperature, pH and hardness with the target range. A complete weekly record should include 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6, 12–18 dGH, zero ammonia, zero nitrite and the nitrate result relative to the tap-water baseline.

Respond to the pattern, not one isolated number

If ammonia or nitrite appears, pause further stocking and check filter flow, blockages, feeding and recent changes to the fish population. OATA explains that adding fish and food increases the waste load, while the beneficial bacterial population needs time to increase. Stocking too quickly can therefore lead to new tank syndrome.

If nitrate climbs faster than usual, review portion sizes, solid-waste removal and whether the weekly 25% change is being completed. If temperature, pH or hardness repeatedly reaches an edge of the range, correct the maintenance plan before adding livestock. Stable repeated results provide a better basis for stocking than one acceptable test immediately after a water change.

Prepare the mature aquarium before the box arrives

Complete the aquarium checks first

Have the aquarium fully prepared, heated, filtered and within range before the fish arrives. OATA advises checking that ammonia and nitrite are zero and increasing livestock numbers slowly so the established bacterial population can adjust to the extra waste and feeding. Do not use the arrival day to finish maturing the filter or to make a major stocking change.

Confirm 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH, then check that rock caves and open swimming routes are accessible. Review the existing Malawi community for territory pressure before adding another fish. If the aquarium already contains aggressive individuals, plan the introduction order and décor arrangement before the delivery day.

Follow the unpacking and acclimatisation steps

The current delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy explains that live fish are hand-bagged in pure oxygen, placed in an insulated poly box and given a heat pack when the weather calls for one. A tracked courier licensed to carry live animals transports the parcel. Make sure someone can receive it because live fish must not be left unattended.

1. Start filming as soon as you receive the sealed parcel, with the outer box visible, and before it is opened. Film continuously as the sealed parcel is opened, with the fish still inside the bag.
2. Float the bag in the aquarium for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
3. Never pour the transport-bag water into the aquarium.

Open and inspect the parcel on the day it arrives, as the Live Arrival Guarantee requires. If anything has gone wrong, contact us the same day your fish arrive with your order number and the unboxing video.

Control the first stocking decision

OATA says it is best to add Malawi cichlids in groups so no individual receives unnecessary aggression as they settle in, and to add more peaceful species before more aggressive ones. That guidance must still fit the aquarium’s capacity and the species-level rule for territorial males. Never add extra fish merely to complete an introduction group when the space, filtration or sex ratio does not support them.

Use changes in behaviour and appearance as early warnings

Learn the fish’s normal swimming, colour, breathing, temperament, body condition and feeding response. OATA lists clear bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, no ulcerations or bumps and appropriate swimming among the signs of a healthy fish. Individual behaviour can vary, so a change from the established pattern is often more useful than comparing one fish with a gallery image.

Check water first when something changes

Do not respond to reduced appetite by adding a larger meal. Uneaten food increases the waste load and can worsen water quality. Test first, then compare the result with zero ammonia, zero nitrite and the normal nitrate pattern for the aquarium.

Use short, repeatable checkpoints

During the first days, watch whether the new fish can reach open water, use a refuge and feed without persistent pursuit. Continue the same observations through the first week while maintaining the normal twice-daily portions and weekly test schedule. Later, compare changes with the notes taken during that settling period.

If the water is within range but concerning behaviour or appearance continues, seek help from our fish team with the test results and a clear description of the change. Treatment choice falls outside routine care and should follow an assessment of the fish and its water rather than colour alone.

Choose tank mates from compatible Lake Malawi groups

Build the community around peaceful Lake Malawi species that share the same hard alkaline water. Seriously Fish names Aulonocara, Copadichromis and other peaceful Malawi species as the more suitable companions for Protomelas taeniolatus. OATA limits Malawi-cichlid communities to other Malawi cichlids or some Synodontis catfish that also naturally inhabit Lake Malawi.

Browse the African cichlid collection to compare identities, then assess each proposed combination against adult space, water range, diet and territorial behaviour. A shared Lake Malawi origin is only the first filter; it does not make every pairing automatic.

Use three compatibility categories

Do not keep this fish in a general tropical community. The OATA compatibility boundary is a Malawi community with the limited Synodontis exception, while the species profile narrows the most suitable cichlids to peaceful Malawi types. That rule also protects the hard alkaline water plan from being compromised for unrelated community fish.

Assess behaviour after introduction

Watch whether every fish can swim, feed and use cover without persistent pursuit. Territorial display may increase around caves or open sand. If one fish remains hidden, loses access to food or develops damaged fins, review the territories and stocking arrangement immediately. OATA recommends rearranging décor to help reduce aggression as fish establish new territories.

Compatibility remains conditional because individuals vary in behaviour and the layout changes how territories form. Base the decision on the exact aquarium and all its residents, not a universal tank-mate label.

Manage male territory and the wider Malawi group separately

Keep one male with several females when the sexes are known. Seriously Fish says males are very territorial and that a very large aquarium is required for more than one male. It is also better to keep several females per male, and OATA explains that more females than males stops a male harassing one individual female.

Apply that ratio only after the fish can be sexed reliably. Do not infer a fixed sex from dispatch size, colour intensity or fin shape at the time of purchase. Sexual differences described for adults include a larger, more colourful male with extended dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, but those biological differences do not turn an unsexed purchase into a guaranteed ratio.

Separate the species group from the community total

OATA says Malawi cichlids can be kept in groups of at least 15 and slightly overcrowded to limit aggression, and that Malawi cichlids kept in small groups will often fight. That is broad guidance for the whole Malawi community, not an instruction to keep 15 Spindle Haps. The species-level social plan remains one male with several females, and any wider community must fit the aquarium, filtration and territorial layout.

Slight crowding increases the importance of filtration and oxygen. OATA recommends an oversized filter and strong aeration for Malawi communities. It also advises increasing fish numbers slowly because the biological filter must adjust to the extra waste. Do not add a large group to an immature filter in an attempt to manage aggression.

Use the proposed stock list as a worked check

• One known male with several females: follows the species recommendation, provided the full group fits the aquarium.
• Two males in approximately 205 litres: reject this plan; more than one male requires a very large aquarium.
• A group containing peaceful Aulonocara or Copadichromis: continue screening for total space, water and individual temperament.
• A combination with mbuna: treat it cautiously rather than assuming success; the species can be kept with mbuna, but more peaceful Malawi fish are preferred.
• A related Protomelas species or colour form: avoid the combination because hybridisation may occur.

When introducing a planned Malawi group, OATA recommends adding more peaceful species before more aggressive ones and adding Malawi cichlids in groups where the aquarium permits. Rearranging décor can reduce established territorial advantage. Continue watching access to food, caves and open water after the fish settle.

Get clear answers to common Spindle Hap questions

How big does the Spindle Hap Cichlid get?

FishBase records a maximum of 11.3 cm total length for male or unsexed fish. Plan the aquarium around that adult-size figure and approximately 205 litres, not the selected dispatch size.

What size aquarium does Protomelas taeniolatus need?

Seriously Fish recommends a 120 × 45 cm base and approximately 205 litres, with rock piles, caves, open swimming areas and a sandy substrate. More than one male requires a very large aquarium.

How many Spindle Hap Cichlids should I keep together?

When the sexes are known, keep one male with several females. Seriously Fish says males are very territorial, so do not plan more than one male unless the aquarium is very large.

Is Protomelas taeniolatus suitable for beginners?

It needs more planning than a general community aquarium because it requires hard alkaline water, approximately 205 litres, controlled high-fibre feeding and deliberate management of male territory within a Malawi community.

What does the Spindle Hap Cichlid eat?

Make high-fibre vegetable matter such as spirulina flake or blanched spinach and lettuce the main diet. Add brine shrimp, Daphnia or bloodworm as supplements, feeding only what it can finish within a few minutes twice daily.

What temperature and pH does it need?

Keep it at 24–26°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18 dGH. The temperature overlaps FishBase and Seriously Fish, while the pH and hardness overlap Seriously Fish species guidance with OATA’s Malawi group guidance.

Is this fish aggressive or likely to nip fins?

Seriously Fish describes it as peaceful but robust, while males are very territorial. Screen the community carefully and act if pursuit causes persistent hiding, loss of feeding access or damaged fins.

Which animals can live with it?

The preferred choices are Aulonocara, Copadichromis and other peaceful Malawi species. Some Lake Malawi Synodontis may also fit; use caution with mbuna and avoid related forms that may hybridise.

How does this fish arrive alive in the UK?

It is hand-bagged in pure oxygen, packed in an insulated poly box with a heat pack when weather calls for one, and carried by a tracked licensed live-animal courier; someone must be present to receive it. Start filming as soon as you receive the sealed parcel, with the outer box visible, and before it is opened, then film continuously as the parcel is opened with the fish still in the bag. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes and keep bag water out of the aquarium.

Read the principal references

• FishBase: scientific identity, family, Lake Malawi distribution, habitat, recorded diet, environmental temperature, maximum length and conservation category.
• Seriously Fish: aquarium footprint, water ranges, layout, filtration, heating, diet, temperament, sex differences and compatible Malawi genera.
• OATA: Malawi-cichlid water, community, feeding, maintenance, introduction and observation guidance.
• RSPCA: the role of established biological filtration in processing ammonia and nitrite.
• Tropical Fish Co: packing, receipt, acclimatisation and Live Arrival Guarantee process.