Obliquidens Hap

About

Found along the rocky shallows and vegetated edges of Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile, Haplochromis obliquidens is a compact cichlid that rarely exceeds three and a half inches but carries itself like something considerably larger. In the wild it hugs the littoral zone, picking diatoms from hard surfaces around pier foundations, emergent plant stems, and the fringes of papyrus swamps. That algae-heavy diet is worth keeping in mind in the aquarium. Plenty of vegetable matter and algae-based foods will help keep this fish in good condition. It is classified as an omnivore, but diatom grazing is really at the core of its natural feeding behavior. Like most Victorian haplochromines, it is a mouthbrooder and can be feisty, particularly males toward each other and toward other similarly colored tankmates. A species-focused setup or a mixed Victorian cichlid community tends to work better than mixing it with unrelated fish. The high-pH, hard-water chemistry typical of the Rift lakes suits it well. This is not a fish for complete beginners, but a keeper comfortable with cichlid dynamics and moderately alkaline water will find it a rewarding and personable resident.