The Deepwater Hap was given its name because it was once believed to only inhabit deep water. This species is endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa where it has been spotted near several of the islands including Likoma Island. These fish tend to live near the sandy bottoms of the lake in waters as deep as 7 meters or more. Deepwater Haps exist in several color morphs but most specimens have an overall blue coloration. This coloration may extend to the fins and, in males of the species, is offset by darker blue stripes running vertically along the body. Females of the species are usually silver in color, having colorless fins, and they do not grow as large as the males.