Need Fish ID Help! Please!

[jbcs80]

The pics aren't the best. I'll try to get some clearer ones later if needed. Thanks!

74529

74530

74531

[derekp]

Looks like a cobalt blue african cichlid, but his colors are still dull. Did you just buy him? If so, that might be why his colors aren't bright yet.

[jbcs80]

I've had her for a while. She's always been a bit dull. Here's a few other pics. From the research I'ce done the body seems very similar to pseudotropheus socolofi. The males are usually more brighter than the female. Thanks for all the help!
John

[Coler]

Is it the same fish in all the pics ? Or ID required on 'em all ?

Because I see one very much looking like a cobalt zebra...and then some more lol.

I'll move this to rift lake because they are certainly malawis at any rate.

[jbcs80]

Well, There are three fish. I thought they were the same. The dull one is a female and the other two are the brighter blue fish. The last pic has a 4th fish which I wasn't really referring to, but I'm not 100% sure what he is so he could be a bonus to find out I guess! Thanks for all the help.

[efors]

Hi!
I'm confused with which are the 3 different fishes to ID. But the blue fish on pic #7 of post #3, really looks like a cobalt blue zebra (Metriaclima callainos).

[petluvr]

^^^AGREED:)

[jbcs80]

ok. After looking at pics of the cobalt blue zebra I agree. Thanks for all the help on that one. I'm still unsure of the dull one which I thought was the same breed. The pics in this post are all of her. Any thoughts? Thanks for all the comments.

[Joanne_3131]

I have been trying to identify this fish, which looks a lot like one of the pictures above (it is also at the bottom of this post) could it be a cobalt blue also? It morphs it's colors according to it's mood, gets so light it blends with my giant danios and then gets really dark in color when it's hiding in a cave or it's dark out.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p_XKpGh3QzAb9TUzhG3n2g?feat=directlinkhttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KaYo90ArLXnwLyaqUF51ug?feat=directlinkhttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y_dKdzxri5mN78eHdAwBsQ?feat=directlinkhttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/66EUH3q-duA3jXHZZFtqlg?feat=directlink

These are pictures of the same fish, it looks very dark in a couple of these but it is a quick change artist and goes from really light exactly like this picture from jbcs80 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=71393) above:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X-D_ETInj2gN-4NwexrrWA?feat=directlink

[Joanne_3131]

Not sure why the pictures didn't imbed into this post, obviously doing something wrong! Will try again:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6176
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6175
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6174
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6173

and the one posted by the original poster:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6172

[Coler]

I'm thinking an elongatus (Pseudotropheus elongatus) based on body shape...I also think I spy an auratus in the fourth pic from the top in the above post...checking a few pics out will get back.

[Joanne_3131]

I'm thinking an elongatus (Pseudotropheus elongatus) based on body shape...I also think I spy an auratus in the fourth pic from the top in the above post...checking a few pics out will get back.

Yep, that is definitely an auratus. I've identified a lot of my fish, but the blue zebra type of one has eluded me. It's color can look just about the same as the one I posted of the original posters fish, but then gets dark like the pictures I posted. It's also an extremely quick fish and slow growing. It is only a couple inches long and the other fish I got at the same time that were the same size are now 3 to 3 1/2 inches long.

[Joanne_3131]

Ok, this shows its color a little bit better, although it's stripes can almost totally disappear too. Just took this picture and took the others an hour or so ago when the aquarium lights were out.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=776&pictureid=6177

[Coler]

Are its fins the same bright blue colour that shows up in the photo ?

[Joanne_3131]

The fins are light colored, with shiny blue areas that show up in the light. There are also shiny blue areas on it's cheeks. They sort of shine like patches of glitter. This is also a very peaceful fish, usually the one being picked on not the one doing the picking. It has gotten very good at hiding, but when it's out and about it can outrun anything in my tank with ease.

[Joanne_3131]

jbcs80, I didn't intend to hijack your post, but I was wondering if your fish is the same as mine. The last picture I posted looks a lot like the one you posted, but it's hard to tell with pictures sometimes! Is yours timid or aggressive? How big is it approx?

[jbcs80]

She looks very similar. Her fins aren't colorful like yours though. She is very timid and has been knocked up a few times over the past 4 months. I haven't really noticed any stripes but she does have a small reflective colorful area near her gills.

[fish_master2000]

The pics aren't the best. I'll try to get some clearer ones later if needed. Thanks!

74529

74530

74531
yeah thinking it is a cobalt , maybe a female, or a dull male