Super Vc-10 Hap

About

The Super VC-10 Hap (Placidochromis milomo) is one of those fish that stops you in your tracks the first time you see a wild-caught specimen. Those famously enlarged lips are not just for show. In Lake Malawi they function as specialized tools for scraping invertebrates and insect larvae from sediment-dusted rocks in the species' native rocky habitat. Interestingly, the lip size corresponds to local water conditions, with fish from more turbulent areas developing even more pronounced lips. In aquarium-raised individuals the lips tend to recede considerably or fail to develop at all, since there is no functional need for them. The species is endemic to Lake Malawi, found around Nkhata Bay and portions of the Nankumba Peninsula. Despite being listed as aggressive, it is actually on the calmer end of the larger Malawi cichlid spectrum, coexisting reasonably well with other sizeable, similarly tempered species. Boisterous mbuna or very small tankmates are poor companions. Males are territorial toward one another, so a single male with multiple females is the standard approach unless you have an unusually large setup. Breeding is maternal mouthbrooding and is achievable but demands some patience. Adult fish carry a high price tag, so most breeders start with a juvenile group and grow them out together. Intermediate experience with African cichlids is a good foundation before taking this species on.