Protomelas sp. "Spilonotus Tanzania" (Insignis Hap) — 1"–1.5" Unsexed

This is the Tanzania variant — the one people actually want. Known in the hobby as the Insignis Hap, Protomelas sp. "Spilonotus Tanzania" comes from the Tanzanian coastline of Lake Malawi, and it is a noticeably better fish than the plain spilonotus you'll find sold under the same genus. Mature males carry a deep metallic blue body broken by brilliant yellow-orange across the head and dorsal, and they get big — eight to ten inches in a mature male.

These are young fish at 1"–1.5", unsexed. Be clear with yourself about what that means: at this size there's no colour yet and no way to tell males from females. That's normal for the grade, it's why they're priced where they are, and it's why most people buy a group and grow them on. Males start showing somewhere past three inches, and the full colour takes a while longer.

A relatively peaceful hap by Malawi standards — it does well in a mixed haplochromine setup with other non-aggressive species. Given the adult size, plan on a four-foot tank or larger for the long term, with hard alkaline water and plenty of open swimming room.

Every fish is quarantined and observed before it leaves us.