ID help, please?

[FishInMaryland]

All I know (from what LFS told me) is Malawi Mbuna of some sort. The coloring in this picture is true, and he/she is very aggressive, but with 9 other Mbunas in the tank now, has settled down quite a bit, but still has everybody else cowed. I hope I loaded pic properly. Thanks, Ruth

[FishInMaryland]

The dark fish is #2 that I need help identifying, please. From a tank of "mixed African cichlids" - big mistake, I have since learned. However, this guy is one of 2 of the same, both pretty placid, but absolutely the #1 and #2 favorite victims of Pic #1. Both of these are about 3", and the one not in this pic has an overbite, rather than an underbite. Very dark, purply, with barring.

Thanks!

[blue2fyre]

The first picture looks like a kenyi that's in the middle of changing colors. They are born blue with gray stripes then the males turn yellow as they mature. They are pretty aggressive.
The second one I'm not sure.

[MYname]

#1 looks like a rusty to me but im not good with cichlids

[FishInMaryland]

Thanks, I appreciate your help. Yes, the first one definitely didn't have any yellow when I first got him, around Christmas, and has picked up the yellow since then. The second one is quite dark, purply, with even darker stripes, but I just haven't seen anything like it in any pictures. It's tough to get a good pic of either of the two that I have, because they are almost always hiding.

[blue2fyre]

However, this guy is one of 2 of the same, both pretty placid, but absolutely the #1 and #2 favorite victims of Pic #1. Both of these are about 3", and the one not in this pic has an overbite, rather than an underbite. Very dark, purply, with barring.


Wait is the one not pictured purple? Or does it look like the fish in the second picture? Perhaps you could get a picture if it looks different. Purple suggests either an acei or a rustie. More likely an acei but who knows without a picture.

[FishInMaryland]

The first two pics below are the same fish...the colors in the first pic are much lighter than reality. Colors in the second pic are true. The third picture is the 2nd one of these fish that I have - the one with the overbite. They are definitely purply, with faint darker barring, and both fish are about 3.5". Very placid and timid.

[kay-bee]

The purplish striped mbuna in post #7 above (1st & 2nd photo), possibly a female BB zebra of some sort (metriaclima sp.), possibly even a sub-adult male.

Here's a photo of a female zebra sp. chilumba for comparison:

Female
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/African%20Cichlids2/a00f6941.jpg

Female (at top) w/Male
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/African%20Cichlids/bbpair2.jpg


The fish in the 3rd photo is a labeotropheus of some sort.

[blue2fyre]

I'm still not sure about that first fish. Could be a hybrid could be a female of some species that I'm just not recognizing. The last one has an overbite which suggests a Labeotropheus species. Looking at the picture the nose is not as pronounced which most likely means hybrid. These guys will breed with just about anything so it's hard to say what the other species is.

[FishInMaryland]

Ok, so now that I have a pretty good idea of these 3 mystery fish, I can now say, with relative certainty, that I have
-1 P. Acei or some sort of Metriaclima
-1 Labeotropheus of some sort
-1 P. Kenyi
-3 Labridochromis Caeruleus (Lion's Cove)
-3 Metriaclima Msobo (2 F, 1 M)

Not sure of all genders. The Kenyi is VERY aggressive, although just chases everybody, considers about 60% of the tank to be his. Before now, when I only had a few fish (mistake, I know), he killed the other Kenyi that came home from LFS with him (overnight!), and 1 other mystery fish. After that, I added 7 new fish at once, kept the lights off and a towel over the tank for 12 hours.

Everybody else is peaceful, although online profiles indicate that the Msobos are aggressive, as are the Labeotropheus. In addition, the Labeotropheus have a max size of 7".

I have a 55 gal tank, with a lot of rockwork and hiding places. Should I consider re-homing any of these fish now, rather than wait? I'd like to fill out the stock on this tank (to about 15-20 fish), and need to do it fairly quickly, so that I don't have to spend $20-25 per fish to get adults.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[blue2fyre]

I would rehome the kenyi. He's only going to get worse as he matures. Otherwise I think you are ok.

[efors]

I would rehome the kenyi. He's only going to get worse as he matures. Otherwise I think you are ok.

:iagree:. And increase the numbers of your actual stock as you said. Keep no more than 4 or better 3 different species in a tank that size (55gal).

[FishInMaryland]

If I only get rid of the Kenyi, I'll have 4 species in there. What do you think about adding new stock to result in:

- 6 Yellow Labs
- 5 Msobo (1 M, 5 F)
- 4 Acei
- 3 Labeotropheus

By the way, if the Labeotropheus will really get to 7", I'm not sure that I really want any of them, and may get rid of the one I have now. Any experience with full-grown adults out there?

[blue2fyre]

I'm not sure exactly what Labeotropheus species it is. I'm still thinking there's a good chance it's a hybrid. I don't think they get to be 7" but it really depends on what species. If it were me I would just keep the one you have and not get anymore. Just see him as a centerpiece fish. Since it seems you have hyrbids in your tank I wouldn't sell any fry that are produced. Just keep the tank as a nice display tank which it seems is what you want in the first place.
Also realize the acei are going to get big as well but they are pretty passive.
I would get the labs, acei and more msobos. Msobos are my personal FAVORITE :) I love them.
The labs and the acei won't care too much about gender ratios so you won't have to worry about making sure you have 1 male. Which is good since they are near inpossible to tell apart.

[FishInMaryland]

That is exactly the information I was looking for! Thanks a lot.

[FishInMaryland]

Well, I've been waiting for the Acei to be available again at Livefishdirect.com, where I got the first 10 fish, and now that the Acei will be avail in a week or so, there aren't any msobos available. I'd like to get everything at once, to save on the shipping costs and to minimize tank disruption, so are there any ideas out there on what will work with the yellow labs, acei, lone labeotropheus, and existing 3 msobos? Or, should I just be patient, and stick to the original plan? Everybody is currently getting along famously, now that the Kenyi is gone. I've checked other online sellers, and can't find any with labs, msobo, and acei.

[Pittbull]

Be patient..

[Lab_Rat]

Well, I've been waiting for the Acei to be available again at Livefishdirect.com, where I got the first 10 fish, and now that the Acei will be avail in a week or so, there aren't any msobos available. I'd like to get everything at once, to save on the shipping costs and to minimize tank disruption, so are there any ideas out there on what will work with the yellow labs, acei, lone labeotropheus, and existing 3 msobos? Or, should I just be patient, and stick to the original plan? Everybody is currently getting along famously, now that the Kenyi is gone. I've checked other online sellers, and can't find any with labs, msobo, and acei.

Looks like Dave's Rare Aquarium Fish has them all on his stock list. http://www.davesfish.com/ His stock is very nice, great quality fish.

[FishInMaryland]

Looks like Dave's Rare Aquarium Fish has them all on his stock list. http://www.davesfish.com/ His stock is very nice, great quality fish.


Yup, you're right! I called and left a message with him yesterday morning, but haven't heard back yet! Thanks for the research (that I should have done!).

Ruth