Name: Haplochromis sp. "Red Back Scraper"

Synonym: Enterochromis sp. "Red Back Scraper"

Common name: Red Back Scraper

Location: Lake Victoria (Mwanza Gulf)

Adult male size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Diet: algae

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Personal notes: I purchased three (1M:2F) fish labeled Haplochromis sp. "Red Back Scraper" from the local aquarium store in January of 2007 and placed them in my 180 gallon tank. The male grew to 5 inches (12 cm) very quickly. The females are still only slightly more than 2 inches (6 cm) long.

They have bred quite a few ties but I am hesitant to distribute the offspring. Most all of the pictures I've seen of the red back scraper show a cichlid with bright yellow below the red and a steeply sloping head as one might expect of an algae grazer. Refer to some of the links below to decide for yourself.

Above is my male Haplochromis sp. "Red Back Scraper"

And above is the female

The above juvenile males show a slightly different coloration

The juvenile males above are just starting to show some color

A breeding picture above left and a holding female above right.

The adult male is more than twice the size of the adult female

Next Victorian cichlid <== Haplochromis sp #44 redtail HOME