Red Fin Hap
Cichlidae sp.
The Red Fin Hap (Cichlidae sp.) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 300 litres (79 US gallons), water held at 77-84°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Africa
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Red Fin Hap Tank Setup
Give them at least 300 litres (79 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 77-84°F and a pH around 6.5-7.5. They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Red Fin Haps Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Red Fin Hap Tank Mates
Requires a large tank and good filtration. The Red Fin Hap is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 20 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Red Fin Haps Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Red Fin Hap - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Red Fin Haps need?
Red Fin Haps need a tank of at least 300 litres (79 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Red Fin Haps need?
Keep them at 77-84°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Red Fin Haps eat?
Red Fin Haps are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Red Fin Haps good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Red Fin Haps to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Red Fin Haps
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 300 litres (79 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Red Fin Haps
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Serpae TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
