aNOTHER question about cichlid behaviour

[janetdc1]

My son added more cichlids(african-mbuna) to his 75 gallon tank tonight- one he purchased is an albino colbalt- the other blue cobalt in there is swimming in close circles around the albino- my son said also he watched them lip lock a few times and the blue has hit the albino - but the most peculiar is the circling- it is fascinating to watch- he goes up and down in a tight circle around the albino- is this territorial or is this a mating ritual? anyone know?
Can you tell if a cobalt is male or female?
thanks in advance.
Janet

[Kat17]

You have a mating dance going on in your tank. That is what they do when they are courting a mate for breeding. If you notice the circling to start getting more aggressive don't worry too much about it until you notice the male to start biting fins hard. At that point in time you may want to try and separate the two for a moment and then let them go again. Good luck with them.

[tarheels910]

You have a mating dance going on in your tank. That is what they do when they are courting a mate for breeding. If you notice the circling to start getting more aggressive don't worry too much about it until you notice the male to start biting fins hard. At that point in time you may want to try and separate the two for a moment and then let them go again. Good luck with them.

It is not breeding. They are fighting for dominance. Most likely two males. If it was breeding, the male would be shaking in front of the female. Circles is a good sign that they are fighting.

Also, Albino Cobalts dont exist. Post a pic. Either an Albino Greshekai, or an Albino Socolofi.

[buzzbombtom]

Also, Albino Cobalts dont exist. Post a pic. Either an Albino Greshekai, or an Albino Socolofi.
how can you say that. albinos exist in ever living being. it may be that they are super rare but they do exist.

[tarheels910]

how can you say that. albinos exist in ever living being. it may be that they are super rare but they do exist.

Find me a picture of one and ill believe it.

[tarheels910]

how can you say that. albinos exist in ever living being. it may be that they are super rare but they do exist.

I can think of about a thousand of species that dont have albino forms. Fryeri, Borleyi, Venustus, Livingstoni, Red Empress, Yellow Lab, Saulosi, Dolpins, etc. WAY too many to list.

[buzzbombtom]

you mean to tell me that this is the only living creature that does not have the gene for ablinisim? wow. every living creature has a gene for albinism. and to make it a little less hard to state my point i have provided you a web pic of said fish
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DAlbino%2520Cobalt%26SpellState%3Dn-1828754802_q-WmlNJq9XqzUJby0JiVKK7gAAAA%2540%2540%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501&w=400&h=204&imgurl=www.rainbowaquatics.com%2FRA_Files%2FImages %2FMbunas%2FAlbino%2520RT.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rainbowaquatics.com%2FMbuna. html&size=12.2kB&name=Albino+RT.jpg&p=Albino+Cobalt&type=jpeg&no=1&tt=25&oid=f895915bb741acb6&ei=UTF-8

[tarheels910]

you mean to tell me that this is the only living creature that does not have the gene for ablinisim? wow. every living creature has a gene for albinism. and to make it a little less hard to state my point i have provided you a web pic of said fish
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DAlbino%2520Cobalt%26SpellState%3Dn-1828754802_q-WmlNJq9XqzUJby0JiVKK7gAAAA%2540%2540%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501&w=400&h=204&imgurl=www.rainbowaquatics.com%2FRA_Files%2FImages %2FMbunas%2FAlbino%2520RT.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rainbowaquatics.com%2FMbuna. html&size=12.2kB&name=Albino+RT.jpg&p=Albino+Cobalt&type=jpeg&no=1&tt=25&oid=f895915bb741acb6&ei=UTF-8
That is not an Albino Cobalt. Because:

1. They dont exist.
2. Its an Albino Greshekai. Since when have you seen a Callainos with red in its fins?

[buzzbombtom]

i have never seen lots of things but i believe that they exist. and because you do not believe that it exists it CANT? that seems strange. i gave you proof of what you asked and all you can say is no that is not real because you dont believe they exist?

[tarheels910]

i have never seen lots of things but i believe that they exist. and because you do not believe that it exists it CANT? that seems strange. i gave you proof of what you asked and all you can say is no that is not real because you dont believe they exist?

I think? I know! Ask anyone that has african cichlid knowledge.

By the way, how are the 9 africans doing in the 10 gallon? Have any more died yet?

[buzzbombtom]

none have died, by the way calling that into question is not revelent to this topic in the least. i know that you do not like me because i do not do things your way and you are trying to discredit everything i say and i could care only enought to give you this response. my fish are FINE they have been fine for the better part of the year and i have no forseeable reason to think otherwise. i provided the pic you asked for, you say it not real. i tell you that the gene for albinism is there and you say no. i tell you that it may be really rare and that might be the reason that no one has seen them. but it seems very arrogant to me that you believe that you know it doenst exist and when someone proves you wrong you call out another "flaw" to take the heat off you. your arguement is weak you i have given you solid evidence that the fish exists, and all you can say is no it is not real. give me proof that it is NOT a possibility for this fish to become albino and i will concider the chance that it doesnt exist.

[tarheels910]

Please try not to argue with me. I know a lot of information compared to you. Have you ever kept an "Albino Cobalt"?

Here is my reasoning. How do you make an "Albino Cobalt"? Other Albino species are created in labs and are mass available to the community. Albinoism does not appear natually. Therefer the "Albino Cobalt" would be a hybrid between a Callainos and an Albino Zebra of some sort. Therefor it is not an Albino Callainos, but a whole other species.

[buzzbombtom]

Please try not to argue with me. I know a lot of information compared to you. Have you ever kept an "Albino Cobalt"?

Albinoism does not appear natually.
1. i am not the one agrueing here. it is you who keep bringing things up that have no relevance to this topic or other topics. you do not know my level of fish knowlage and all you have is judgement based on something that is not wrong.
2. albinism not albinosm does appear in nature quite freaquently with all things concidered. this trait is usually a negitive effect and does not allow the individual expressing this trait much chance at life, why you ask, albinism removes pigment, if you rely on your color to act as a sort of camo then when you do not have that and instead stick out like like a white head of course you are gonna get killed. also another effect is that some imune system problems are sometimes documented, meaning that a lot of albinos die.
3. and lastly because cichlids seem to breed based on sexually selected traits ie coloration an outsider that does not display the best coloration will not be chosed to mate. meaning that a trait is ressive meaning that two carriers have to mate. look at how rare it is in humans to be albino i have never seen one but i know they exist.

with all this how can you possibly say that it is IMPOSSIBLE for a fish to be an albino.
i have never kept a lot of fish but i know they exist that point is weak and holds not merit.

please stop harrising me

[tarheels910]

1. i am not the one agrueing here. it is you who keep bringing things up that have no relevance to this topic or other topics. you do not know my level of fish knowlage and all you have is judgement based on something that is not wrong.
2. albinism not albinosm does appear in nature quite freaquently with all things concidered. this trait is usually a negitive effect and does not allow the individual expressing this trait much chance at life, why you ask, albinism removes pigment, if you rely on your color to act as a sort of camo then when you do not have that and instead stick out like like a white head of course you are gonna get killed. also another effect is that some imune system problems are sometimes documented, meaning that a lot of albinos die.
3. and lastly because cichlids seem to breed based on sexually selected traits ie coloration an outsider that does not display the best coloration will not be chosed to mate. meaning that a trait is ressive meaning that two carriers have to mate. look at how rare it is in humans to be albino i have never seen one but i know they exist.

with all this how can you possibly say that it is IMPOSSIBLE for a fish to be an albino.
i have never kept a lot of fish but i know they exist that point is weak and holds not merit.

please stop harrising me

I know you knowlegde. Keeping 9 africans in a 10 gallon. :duh:

It is not pure. There are no pure Albino Callainos, therefor it must be a hybrid.

[buzzbombtom]

you still have not told me why i should not do this. all you can tell me is that it is stupid. my fish do not seem stressed out.
my fish eat
my fish only chase eachother
they do not lock lips
they do not die in this setup
all my fish come to the glass when i enter the room
all my fish share area
all my water params are always spot on.
my filtration works
now can you tell me with facts that what i am doing is bad for these fish.
i have seen stressed fish none of these fish look stressed in the least.
when i put fewer fish in this tank all but one died. can you explain that?

[tarheels910]

you still have not told me why i should not do this. all you can tell me is that it is stupid. my fish do not seem stressed out.
my fish eat
my fish only chase eachother
they do not lock lips
they do not die in this setup
all my fish come to the glass when i enter the room
all my fish share area
all my water params are always spot on.
my filtration works
now can you tell me with facts that what i am doing is bad for these fish.
i have seen stressed fish none of these fish look stressed in the least.
when i put fewer fish in this tank all but one died. can you explain that?
Yes, all but one fish died because these fish do not belong in a 10 gallon.

These fish grow to 5-6 inches and do not belong in a 10 gallon. Try a little research. Dont try to argue with me when you know nothing.

[buzzbombtom]

i have told you already i do not plan to let them grow. they are all small fish. i have done my research.

[tarheels910]

i have told you already i do not plan to let them grow. they are all small fish. i have done my research.
Haha. You cannot "plan" to not let fish grow. Do you even know what species you have?

[buzzbombtom]

yes. and i can plan to not let them grow. once they are too big i give them back to the fish store.

[tarheels910]

yes. and i can plan to not let them grow. once they are too big i give them back to the fish store.

So a week after you buy them, you take them back?

Well lets hear what fish you have.

[buzzbombtom]

Altolamprologus calvus
red zebra
red jewl
lake victoria
Julidochromis gombi
yellow lab
mbamba
Giraffe Hap
electric yellow

and i take one or two back every few months, they do not eat often as feeding brings out aggression.

[Lupin]

they do not eat often as feeding brings out aggression.
Naturally, they would.;) They fight for food to survive. Happens in the wild.

[tarheels910]

Altolamprologus calvus
red zebra
red jewl
lake victoria
Julidochromis gombi
yellow lab
mbamba
Giraffe Hap
electric yellow

and i take one or two back every few months, they do not eat often as feeding brings out aggression.

Wow. You know that you have 2 Tanganyikans, a Victorian, and an African Riverine. You also have a Ventustus that can get close to a foot in lenght. Next time you take your fish back mat I recommend shelldwellers. They are from Lake Tanganyika and stay small. You can keep them in your tank forever and it is great to watch their behavior.

[nickmcmechan]

1. wayyyyyyyy offf topic...this thread was about mating rituals versus agression rituals

2. i agree with tarheels, although he is as agressive as an african cichlid his knowledge is very good, just got to take him the right way

3. i have several very healthy pseudotropheus zebra which have no colour, i call them albino but they are not, their eyes are not red, i think they are simply colourless or a hybrid

jeeeeeessssssss............

[jack.seeders]

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/jackseeders/fishy005.jpg

[ChunkyMonkey]

I just wanted to jump in here and say howdy!



(running for cover)

[Coler]

I agree...metriaclimia greshekai http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2317

Perhaps the person advocating a 10g for 10 large rift lake cichlids should start a separate thread about that. Freedom of speech of course also means freedom of listening & answering. 'It's just my way of doing it' is never an excuse for doing things wrong. The value of shares my fall as well as rise. Always read the small print.

:D

[Reefscape]

Lets please remember that no-body here is the fountain of all knowledge on fish and aquaria. Just because a person has not seen something, does not mean it does not exist and it is down to that person to prove that something does not exist if that is at all possible. When evidence on the contrary is shown, that information should be used to expand our knowledge, not simply say its untrue.

Keep this thread on topic regarding the thread OP's question or it will be closed.

Thanks

Niko