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Vicarious haplo (Haplochromis vicarius) — Cichlidae

Vicarious haplo

Haplochromis vicarius
Family: Cichlidae

The Vicarious haplo (Haplochromis vicarius) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Vicarious haplo is a cichlid (Cichlidae) from the Lake Victoria system in East Africa. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky body; dominant males colour up brightly with blue, yellow or red tints and carry 'egg-spots' on the anal fin. As a bottom-oriented fish it searches, depending on the species, for small invertebrates, snails, algae or small fish. It is a mouthbrooder: the female protects the eggs and young in her mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Vicarious haplo?

The Vicarious haplo has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Vicarious haplo live?

The Vicarious haplo lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Vicarious haplo get?

The Vicarious haplo grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Vicarious haplo dangerous to humans?

No, the Vicarious haplo is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Plaatsvervanger-cichlide sourced
English name
Vicarious haplo sourced
Scientific name
Haplochromis vicarius
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Haplochromis

More from the family Cichlidae

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