Haplochromis sp. Carp – Mbipia Lutea

Common name: Haplochromis sp. Carp

Scientific name: Mbipia Lutea

Average Adult Fish Size: 10cm / 4 inches

Place of Origin: Lake Victoria

Typical Tank setup: Rocky Victoria tank

Recommended Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 40 gallons / 160 Litres

Compatibility: Very aggressive. Keep with other aggressive Victorians. Males should be kept with a harem size of at least 3 females with more being better. The smaller the aquarium the more rock work is necessary.

Temperature: 22-27 Deg C / 72-80 Deg F

Water chemistry: pH 7.2 – 8.4

Feeding:  Lutea are omnivorous. Feed spirulina-based flake food or the appropriate sized pellet supplemented with fresh green vegetables such as romaine lettuce and spinach. Frozen or fresh brine shrimp can be fed as an occasional treat.

Sexing: Like all Mbipia, venting is the best way to sex them, but dominant Lutea males show aqua on the top fin. Females have the same striping pattern, just not the coloration. Males are larger and thicker in body size.

Breeding: Harem breeder. Substrate spawner. Females hold the fry for approximately 2 weeks. Isolation is recommended, as these fish are hard on each other. Feed fry very small foods such a Hikari First Bites, crushed flake or baby brine shrimp is recommended.

Additional Information: These fish are endangered in the wild.  If you find them, as with all Victorian species, please be sure and breed them as they are on the edge of being threatened in the wild because of pollution and the introduction of the Nile Perch, which are rapidly eating all the fish in Lake Victoria.