{"product_id":"red-cap-lethrinops-lethrinops-sp-red-cap","title":"Red Cap Lethrinops | Lethrinops sp. 'Red Cap'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA busy, good-looking sand-sifting cichlid from Lake Malawi, the Red Cap Lethrinops pairs a metallic blue body with a vivid red-orange cap and dorsal in dominant males. It spends its day cruising the bottom, sifting mouthfuls of sand for food. One of the milder-mannered Malawi haps, it reaches around 12–15 cm and adds constant, peaceful colour along the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eLethrinops species are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where this fish lives over the open sandy floor and sediment-rich zones. The lake is warm, hard and strongly alkaline, so an aquarium needs a deep sandy bed for sifting, some rockwork for territory, and hard, alkaline Rift Lake water.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA streamlined, moderately-sized hap. Dominant males colour up with a metallic blue body and a striking red to orange 'cap' across the forehead and into the dorsal fin, while females and subdominant males are a plainer silvery-brown. The down-turned mouth is built for sifting sand.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne of the more peaceable Malawi cichlids — mildly territorial rather than truly aggressive. Males defend a small patch of sand, especially when breeding, but they generally coexist well with other non-aggressive haps and robust community Malawi species given space and sand to sift.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA sand-sifting carnivore and invertebrate feeder in the wild, taking small creatures strained from the substrate. In the aquarium offer quality cichlid pellets and flake plus frozen and live foods such as brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops. Avoid an over-rich diet high in mammalian protein.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 200 L with a long footprint, a deep bed of soft sand for natural sifting behaviour, and rockwork to break lines of sight. Keep hard, alkaline Rift Lake conditions — 24–28 °C, pH 7.8–8.6 and hard water — with strong filtration and good water movement.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eLike most Malawi cichlids it is a maternal mouthbrooder. A displaying male entices a female to spawn over the sand, after which she carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming young. Breeding is straightforward when a group is kept in good Rift Lake conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLethrinops sp. 'Red Cap'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed Cap Lethrinops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrica (Lake Malawi)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12–15 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMildly aggressive (territorial when breeding)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (sand-sifter): cichlid pellets, flake, frozen and live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 10–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water Rift Lake (Malawi) aquariums with sand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (sand-sifting disturbs rooted plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest with other peaceful to moderate Lake Malawi haps and non-aggressive utaka such as Copadichromis, other Lethrinops, peaceful Aulonocara (peacocks) and similarly-sized, mild Malawi species. Keep as one male with several females where possible.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid aggressive mbuna and boisterous large haps that will bully this milder fish, soft-water community species that cannot handle hard alkaline water, and delicate rooted plants that its sand-sifting will disturb.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232780173603,"sku":"AA2663-S","price":49.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232780206371,"sku":"AA2663","price":59.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232780239139,"sku":"AA2663-L","price":69.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/red-cap-lethrinops-lethrinop-43879578698019.webp?v=1790305552","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-cap-lethrinops-lethrinops-sp-red-cap","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}