Scientific Name(s): Placidochromis milomo, Melanochromis Labrosus, Haplochromis Labrosus, Crytocara Labrosus, Crytocara Milomo.

Common Name(s): Big lipped hap, Super vc 10

Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: Haplochromis

Maximum Size: 6 Inches

Life Span: 9-15 years in optimal conditions

Natural Habitat: Milomo, are found mostly at the southwest end of Lake Malawi, around the shorelines of Mbenji island. This area has a rich sediment bottom with some under water reefs. This area has many natural rock structure and many cave like areas within the rocks for hiding and spawning sites.

Diet: Readily accept flake and stick food and can be feed frozen or freezedried plankton, krill or brine shrimp also.They like small fish,tubifex worms, Small earthworms and mosquito larvae in the wild.

Temperature: 79-82 Degrees

PH: 8-8.5 and 10-20 dGH Medium hard to hard

Minimum Tank Size: Minimum 55 gallons

Tank Region: Mid to lower

Temperament: Males are aggressive to one another 1-3 m/f ratio should be kept. They are a very strong fish which will not back down from other fish. Can hold its own very well against aggressive fish, but is pretty peaceful in all.

Possible Tank Mates: Other Haps of similar species and size can be kept together.

Filtration and Setup: Any HOB filter, mechanical, biological, chemical, or canister filter will do fine. Weekly water change of 25% should be considered. A 70 /30 mix of gravel to sand will work nice as will all gravel or all sand. Milomo like hiding places so a lot of rock work should be provided. Caves can be provided from driftwood,root work and lots of rocks.

Coloration: Dimorphic, upper half of the males head is metallic sky blue, and lower is turquoise.
Females do not get this and retains juvenile color.

Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder, these guys breed on a flat surface like slate or a flat rock. They do the breeding dance and the female broods the eggs in her caudal sac after the male fertilizes the eggs. Typically she holds the eggs for about 3 weeks and then they are released and maybe looked after for a few days tops if at all. (breeding is best done in a community tank not a species only tank).