Taeniochromis holotaenia
Taeniochromis holotaenia
Taeniochromis holotaenia
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Remarks: Taenichromis holotaenia is the only named member of its genus and is only very rarely seen in the hobby. It is a large, predatory cichlid from Lake Malawi that hunts small cichlids and other fish. They have a large black stripe that runs from their eye to the caudal peduncle and is present in both juveniles and adults. This stripe is where the Taeni- part of their genus name comes from as it roughly means "stripe" in Latin. Juveniles and females tend to remain mostly silver, but mature males will turn a dark blue with a white edge on the top of the dorsal fin. When in breeding dress, adult males light up with even more color as their more subdued blue hue turns electric and they get bright yellow or orange coloration on their fins and belly. These bright colors look absolutely fantastic in a hap or peacock and hap community tank. It should be noted it can take some time for T. holotaenia to mature so one will have to be patient if purchasing juveniles. This wait it absolutely worth it in the end as these fish are absolutely stunning predator haps.
In the wild, T. holotaenia can be found at some truly impressive depths in Lake Malawi, typically between 23 ft all the way down to 200ft. They can often be found hunting in the open-water in large packs that can sometimes exceed 100 individuals in size. Interestingly, sometimes other species of open-water dwelling haps such as Nimbochromis species will join in on these hunts as these pursuit piscivores chase down smaller cichlids and other fish. Since T. holotaenia are used to having nearly endless space to swim in the wild, they will need to be provided a large aquarium with plenty of swimming space to feel comfortable. They should not be housed in aquariums that are not at least 6 feet long with 125 gallon tanks usually being the smallest aquariums that meet this criteria. While these predator haps will attempt to swallow anything small enough to fit in their mouths, they are mostly peaceful so long as they are given enough space. Males can grow territorial with members of their own species so even more space will be required if one plans to have more than one to a tank.
T. holotaenia are carnivores so a diet high in protein sources from fish and invertebrate meats is recommended to keep them healthy. Pellets high in these proteins along with frozen thawed foods such as bloodworms and krill can be good options to meet their dietary needs. Ensuring T. holotaenia are fed a diverse and nutritious diet will encourage them to not only be healthy, but will also bring out their best colors. Many keepers have noted them to not be picky and that they are voracious feeders making feeding time very entertaining. Well cared for haps that are fed well and kept in the right parameters are likely to spawn given one has a pair or breeding group. As these fish are naturally pit spawners where males will dig pits in the sand to attract females, providing a sandy substrate will further encourage spawning. Like with most haps, the female will take up the eggs in her mouth after spawning to mouthbrood until the fry hatch and are free swimming.
Animal Data
Animal Data
- Native to: Lake Malawi, Africa
- Breeding: Tank-raised in USA
- Max adult size: 8-9"
- Diet: Carnivore
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Care skill: Intermediate
Tank Parameters
Tank Parameters
- Temp range: 75°F - 82°F
- pH range: 7.5 - 8.4
- TDS range: 200 ppm - 400 ppm
- Min Tank Size:
Shipping Info
Shipping Info
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
| US Zone 1 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $39.99 |
| US Zone 2 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $49.99 |
| US Zone 3 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $59.99 |
| US Zone 4 |
UPS/FedEx Overnight |
$69.99 |
| Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS/FedEx Overnight 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Canada | UPS/FedEx Overnight -2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Florida | UPS/FedEx 1 Day Ground | $19.99 |
| Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
| No overseas shipping | ||
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
Why buy from us?
Our Healthy & Happy Arrival guarantee
We've been packing and shipping live fish for over 50 years. When you buy from us, you get the healthiest stock and most experienced live fish shipping in the industry. So you know you won't be disappointed!
Will my fish look like the picture?
The majority of fish on our website will NOT look like their photos upon their unboxing. Fish change in appearance depending on many factors, including mood, age, gender, and social status. Fish will naturally lose color during shipping and may appear faded upon arrival. Pictures are used as examples only. Pictures may be of mature fish with full color or juvenile fish without color. We encourage you to research the species as much as possible prior to ordering in order to familiarize yourself with the various appearances they may take on. Many species have females that look drastically different to their male counterparts, and many juveniles will not have as much color (or different colors) as their adult forms. If you have questions about how the fish will look, please review their information and email us if you have any questions.
How do I know which fish can go together in my tank?
Research the product descriptions on our website and use Google search to help decide which fish can go together. PLEASE do your research and email us if you have any questions. Also, we have a very active Facebook group called Imperial Tropicals Fishkeepers where you can learn from knowledgable and experienced fishkeepers.
How do you ship live fish? Sounds risky!
We've been shipping live fish for over 50 years. we use specialized packaging and techniques to ensure their health. See how we do it.
How much does shipping cost?
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
| US Zone 1 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $39.99 |
| US Zone 2 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $49.99 |
| US Zone 3 | UPS/FedEx Overnight | $59.99 |
| US Zone 4 |
UPS/FedEx Overnight |
$69.99 |
| Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS/FedEx Overnight 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Canada | UPS/FedEx Overnight -2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Florida | UPS/FedEx 1 Day Ground | $19.99 |
| Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
| No overseas shipping | ||
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
When will I get my order?
We need 2-4 days to select and pack your fish, you'll get a notification when it ships along with tracking info. It will arrive the next day or day after, depending on your location. See our Shipping Policy for full info.
What if my order is delayed? Will my fish be OK?
We ship hundreds of packages a week, and most are delivered without any issues thanks to our experienced team and premium air courier service. Our high-tech packaging is designed to sustain the animals a minimum of 2-3 days in the box, and in some cases longer, depending on the breed.
However, sometimes delays do occur. If this happens to your order, please document and contact us promptly following our inspection and documentation policies above in order to receive credit.
Can I change or cancel my order after it is placed?
Orders can be changed or cancelled within 24 hours, subject to a 10% restocking fee. Shipping is stressful for the animals and we cannot open boxes once they have been prepped and packed.
Can you hold my order until my tank is ready?
We can hold for a few days, but not beyond a week as inventory changes rapidly. Please only place your order when you know you will be ready to receive them.
What if my order is missing something?
First, please check the box and packaging thoroughly. If you are sure an item is missing please contact us immediately.
Do you offer pickup on local orders?
Yes! Just specify local pickup as your shipping option in checkout and we'll let you know when it is ready.
What if a fish I receive seems dead, sick or doesn't look right?
97% of our orders arrive without an issue. But if something goes wrong, no worries! You're covered under our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee