Sulphur-headed Hap
Otopharynx lithobates
Cichlidae
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About
The name is the description: lithobates means rock-walker, and Seriously Fish notes that this is 'a true rock dweller and is hardly ever seen in open water, even in aquaria'. It lives in caves and crevices in the rocky south of Lake Malawi - recorded between Domwe Island and Monkey Bay and at Thumbi East and West, Mumbo, Chinyamwezi and Zimbawe Rock - and it was described in 1989 by Michael K. Oliver, who has documented the lake's cichlids ever since. Dominant males are what people buy it for: the three dark flank spots vanish under neon blue, and the top of the head and almost the whole dorsal fin turn deep yellow-orange, which is where the trade name sulphur-head comes from. Seriously Fish rates the Zimbawe Rock form the most colourful. Its wild diet is the oddest thing on this page. FishBase records that it feeds on the droppings of mainly herbivorous species and picks edible morsels off the substrate, and that it 'also seems to be attracted to large catfishes, from which it may eat wastes as well' - a second reference on the same page pins this to Bagrus meridionalis, the lake's cave-dwelling catfish. In a tank it simply eats what it is given. Behaviour is mild for a hap of this size. Seriously Fish calls it 'a relatively peaceful species ideal for many hard water communities' but says two things in the same breath that matter for stocking: 'small fish will be eaten', and it 'should not be kept with boisterous fish such as Mbuna'. AquaInfo agrees, noting it turns aggressive only in a tank that is too small. It also leaves the planting alone - Seriously Fish states that 'this species does not damage vegetation so plants can be used but are not essential', and AquaInfo actively suggests furnishing with hard-leaved Vallisneria and Anubias. Two labels to know. FishBase treats Otopharynx walteri Konings, 1990 as a junior synonym of this species, and both Seriously Fish and Wikipedia record that under that name it circulated in the trade as an Aristochromis - 'Aristochromis sp. red top' - for years. On size, Seriously Fish gives 16 cm standard length, which excludes the tail; FishBase gives 16 cm TL for males and 10 cm for females; AquaInfo has males at about 17 cm and females about 15 cm. We plan for 17 cm.
Care
A rock tank with caves, a sand floor and a harem. Seriously Fish's 90 x 45 x 37.5 cm (160 litres) is the fish alone; AquaInfo asks for at least 150 cm; we gate at 120 cm and 250 litres and would give a harem more length. Stack rock into caves with open water between, over sand, and keep hard, alkaline Malawi water at pH 7.8-8.5, 10-25 dH, 25-27 C. Keep one male with three or more females - if several males are kept, only the dominant one will colour up and spawn - and choose tank mates from peaceful haps rather than mbuna, which will bully it. Anything under about 6 cm is food. Plants are welcome and undamaged: Vallisneria and Anubias are the two both sources name. Keep the tank covered. Buy it aware that the same fish may be labelled Otopharynx walteri or, in older stock, 'Aristochromis red top'.
Diet
Omnivore that picks morsels off the bottom - and, in the lake, eats other fishes' droppings, including those of the catfish Bagrus meridionalis. In the tank, live and frozen foods as the bulk, plus cichlid granules and some spirulina. Moderate protein, small portions.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (34)
Possible with care (308)
Avoid (76)
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.
Also in these lists
Similar species
Same category and the closest water parameters — if this species isn't quite it, start here.
Sold in Lithuania
These Lithuanian shops listed this species in their public catalogue (checked August 8, 2026). Stock moves — ask before you travel.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Sulphur-headed Hap need?
- A Sulphur-headed Hap needs an aquarium of at least 250 litres (66 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Sulphur-headed Hap need?
- Sulphur-headed Hap does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 7.6–8.8 and a general hardness of 10–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Sulphur-headed Hap need?
- Sulphur-headed Hap is a social species — keep a group of at least 4 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Sulphur-headed Hap suitable for beginners?
- Sulphur-headed 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.