Borleyi (Redfin Hap)
Copadichromis borleyi
Cichlidae
About
Copadichromis borleyi is an open-water 'utaka' haplochromine endemic to Lake Malawi, where large schools hover over rocky islets and boulders picking zooplankton from the water column. Males flush a striking blue with red-orange fins, and the species is unusually calm for a Malawi hap, making it a centrepiece for spacious hard-water cichlid communities.
Care
Keep one male with a group of three or more females in a 300 L+ tank with hard, alkaline water, a sandy floor, rock retreats and plenty of open mid-water swimming space. Pair only with similarly sized, non-mbuna Malawi cichlids and avoid other Copadichromis to prevent hybridisation.
Diet
Micro-predator on drifting zooplankton; feed a spirulina-rich staple plus frozen or live brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops, keeping protein moderate to protect digestion.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (4)
Possible with care (153)
Avoid (114)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Borleyi (Redfin Hap) need?
- A Borleyi (Redfin Hap) needs an aquarium of at least 300 litres (79.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 150 cm (59.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Borleyi (Redfin Hap) need?
- Borleyi (Redfin Hap) does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 7.5–8.6 and a general hardness of 8–22 °dGH.
- What group size does a Borleyi (Redfin Hap) need?
- Borleyi (Redfin Hap) is a social species — keep a group of at least 4 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Borleyi (Redfin Hap) suitable for beginners?
- Borleyi (Redfin Hap) sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.