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Happy (Mchenga flavimanus) — Cichlidae

Happy

Mchenga flavimanus
Family: Cichlidae
LC · Least Concern

The Happy (Mchenga flavimanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The cichlid is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species is slender; males are more handsomely coloured in the spawning season with yellowish fins. It is found mainly on sandy beaches, where it hovers in schools above the bottom. It feeds on drifting zooplankton it plucks from the water column. As a haplochromine cichlid it is a maternal mouthbrooder. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Happy?

The Happy has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Happy live?

The Happy lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Happy get?

The Happy grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Happy dangerous to humans?

No, the Happy is harmless to humans.

Is the Happy edible?

The Happy is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geelvin-zandcichlide sourced
English name
Happy verified
Scientific name
Mchenga flavimanus
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Mchenga

More from the family Cichlidae

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