Placidochromis Phenochilus Star Sapphire African Cichlid 4cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Star Sapphire is the Tanzanian form of Placidochromis phenochilus, prized for adult males that turn deep blue and gradually develop a scatter of metallic white spots like a night sky. It is a gentle, open-water hap from the sandy shores of Lake Malawi. A superb showpiece for a large, peaceful Malawi community.
- Adult Size: Males around 20–25 cm (8–10 in); females about 15 cm (6 in)
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: Lake Malawi, Tanzanian shoreline
- Habitat: Open sandy zones with sparse rockwork
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, leaning carnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Cichlid pellets, flake, krill, mysis, brine shrimp
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; avoid overfeeding
Tank Mates
- Best with: Similar-sized peaceful haps, peacocks, gentle mbuna
- Avoid: Aggressive mbuna, big predatory haps, fish small enough to eat
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful for a Malawi cichlid
- Territoriality: Low; males spar only around spawning
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Large tank, stable alkaline water, slow colour development
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline
- Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
- pH: 7.8–8.6
- Hardness: 10–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 450 litres for a group; a 180 cm tank suits adults
Final Notes
Expect a slow reveal: juveniles are plain silver, males turn solid blue at about 8 cm and the white spotting begins at 10–12 cm, becoming denser with age. Keep one male with several females over a sand bed with open swimming space and a few rock piles. It is a maternal mouthbrooder; females hold 20–40 large fry for about three weeks. Given room and time, it becomes a true jewel of the tank.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.