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Redfin Kadango

Copadichromis borleyi

Freshwater Lake Malawi, Africa Usually captive bred

A showy, deep-bodied open-water haplochromine where mature males boast a metallic blue head, bright orange body, and distinct dark spotting. Keep in a spacious tank with open swimming zones, maintaining hard alkaline water and keeping one male with a harem of females.

Also called: Haplochromis borleyi redfin, Haplochromis goldfin, Happy.

14 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 14 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 350 L, at least 150 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 50 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 4 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 27 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 7.6 to 8.6 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 20, KH 8 to 14 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in Middle water Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 9 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Redfin Kadango is an plankton feeder that swims in the middle of the tank. It leaves most plants alone. Give it some cover. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.