Hap · Lake Malawi, line-bred
Dragon Giraffe
Nimbochromis venustus (line-bred)
A big, slow-moving predator in gold and dark chocolate.
Display only, not for breeding purposes
This line is kept and sold as display stock only. No breeding pairs, no breeding lines, no breeding rights are sold with any fish on this page.
Display only, not for breeding purposes
The Giraffe cichlid is one of the great show fish of Lake Malawi: a gold-flushed body under a dense field of chocolate blotches, with a blue-grey mask and a steep, predatory profile. Our Dragon line leans warmer and heavier in the pattern than standard stock. These are big fish that command a big tank, and they know it — calm, deliberate, and completely unbothered by the small stuff.
At a glance
- Typical size
- 9–11 in (23–28 cm) male, 8 in female
- Water temp
- 75–82°F / 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.8–8.6
- Hardness
- 12–20 dGH
- Minimum tank
- 125 gal, 6 ft footprint
- Temperament
- Predatory, generally calm
- Diet
- Carnivore / piscivore
- Care level
- Intermediate
Size tiers
Pricing is based on size and species. Call Mike for current pricing on the size you want.
Juvenile
2–3 in — unsexed
Pattern already visible · call for price
Sub-adult
4–5 in — sexing visible
Growing fast · call for price
Young adult
6–7 in — pattern filling in
Needs the big tank now · call for price
Adult
8 in+ — full pattern
Ask what's currently available · call for price
Availability & pricing
613 331 2847Text or call Mike. Local pickup only in Kingston or Battersea, Ontario — in person, cash or e-transfer.
Text Mike about this fishHabitat features
- Open sand with a few large, heavy rocks — this is a fish of the open transition zone.
- Wide footprint matters more than height; give it horizontal swimming room.
- Sandy substrate they can hover over and pick through.
- Strong filtration and heavy biological load capacity; these are messy, large fish.
Water
- Temperature 75–82°F.
- pH 7.8–8.6, buffered with Aragonite or crushed coral.
- Very strong filtration — expect a heavy bioload from a fish this size.
- Weekly large water changes; 30–40% is normal upkeep for adults.
Compatibility
Good tank mates
- ✓Other large haps and peaceful-ish Malawi predators of comparable size.
- ✓Large plecos and synodontis catfish that can hold their own.
- ✓A single male to several females in a six-foot tank.
Avoid or use caution
- ✕Any fish small enough to fit in its mouth. It will eat them, and it is not a defect.
- ✕Mbuna — the size mismatch and temperament mix goes badly in both directions.
- ✕Tanks under six feet long; a full-grown male needs the room.
Diet
- Large carnivore pellets as the staple.
- Whole frozen silversides, prawns, mussel and white fish, chopped to size.
- Feed two to three times a week rather than daily — large predators over-eat in captivity.
- Avoid feeder goldfish; the disease risk is not worth it.
Keeper notes
- Plan the tank around the adult size, not the four-inch fish you buy.
- Venustus hunt by lying still and ambushing — that stillness is normal, not illness.
- One of the most photographed Malawi fish for good reason; the pattern is exceptional under warm light.
See it in person
Every fish can be viewed before you buy. Appointments in Kingston or Battersea.
Reminder: display only, not for breeding purposes.