ID please

[becca320]

Hi all,
I'm new on here and wondered if anyone could identify the fish below, I kind of adopted them from bad conditions (Long story http://britishcichlid.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif )and would appreciate any advise, there are 2 yellowy coloured fish and one blue one possibly "Kenyi" ?? they keep going up to each other and kind of "kissing" the only way I can describe it, but there is no aggression between any of them

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket1.jpg (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket1.jpg)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket2.jpg (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket2.jpg)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket3.jpg (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket3.jpg)

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket4.jpg (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh193/becca3201/photobucket4.jpg)

If anyone can help I would very much appreciate it
p.s. Sorry for rubbish photo's
Thanks
Becks.[/

[caitylee]

I believe the yellow ones are hornet (bumblebee) cichlids (Pseudotropheus crabro)

[becca320]

thankyou !!! any ideas about the blue one ?? anyone want them?????? Adopted them (or saved them from a pond to be exact!!!)

[ibr3ak]

The blue looks like a c. afra (lupingu possibly), the yellow/green one looks like a victorian hap (maybe Kenya Gold), the other yellow one in the back does look like a p. crabro.

Becca try the for sale section to give them out to someone.

[becca320]

Thankyou , will do , however think you are mainly the other side of the pond !! I am in UK

[becca320]

And I think I would struggle giving them away

[ibr3ak]

There are people on this forum from your side of the lake. ;)

If you want to keep them, keep them, just make sure they're housed in a large enough tank, bumblebee cichlids can be a real pain in the *ss as far as aggression. Also if the tank space allows it get more africans to overpopulate and spread the aggression.

How big are the fish now?

[becca320]

they are about 6 inches at the moment, I dont understand though the blue one keeps "kissing" one of the yellow ones, There is no aggression whatsoever, I could keep them I spose, they are currently in a 4ft tank , seem to have ample rrom, how do i higher the ph , (i think thats what i need to do in comparison to normal tropical fish) i currently have community fish ie angels, kribs, guppies and a mixed cory tank

[becca320]

i just looked at your link, my blue fish looks identical to your 10th photo down it is about 5 inches .. I feel sorry for it as it is on its own ?? but gets lots of kisses !! I have been told that this is aggressive though, means that they are fighting for territory ?

Have another 4ft tank coming at the weekend but no filter as yet and apsolutely pennyless after spending a fortune on tank and 2 external filters (All to save them !! should be called Doo little !!! )

[ibr3ak]

The 10th photo is a p. socolofi, which rarely shows any barring unless it's showing aggression, otherwise it's a solid blue with only darker lines on its fins.

The 4 foot tank is fine (I assume it's a 55gal), to up the ph all you'll need is crushed coral (to either use as a substrate or use a smaller amount in your filter) or you could also get an eco complete cichlid sand if you don't like the look of cc. You'll also need alot of rockwork to give them spaces to hide.

Liplocking usually means aggression, especially when they are trying to fight for territory or establish a pecking order, 4 fish in a 4ft tank is too little especially for mbuna, you'll need to up the number to spread the aggression.