I have 2 questions here actually...

As for the yellow Lab's, they do get "deeper" yellow with age/size, but it also depends on the fish. Some simply have better color, and some will show black markings on the face as they mature. I have a dozen that are very clean, no black on the face of even the dominant male.

As for the Kenyi, it looks like you already have several different blue fish in the tank. A 55 isn't a very large tank, particularly for mbuna, and it's not wise to mix males with similar colors/markings. Aside from crossbreeding, interspecific aggression is greater among similar-looking species. It may not be terrible when they're young, but as they grow/mature there will be deaths. There's a 125 display tank at the lfs that was stocked with a variety of mbuna and peacocks several years ago. Today the johanni are the dominant fish, while most of the other dozen or so species are extinct in that tank. There are always several johanni fry of various sizes lurking about the tank, but none of the other species managed to breed successfully.

My experience with these fish is as follows.... I really like my yellow labs. My dominant male gets a black "beard" on his face when I stress him out by cleaning the tank or something. He's a digger, and has moved about 1/4 of the sand in the tank to make his own cave. I love to get in there with the siphon and move everything back and watch him frantically try and get his home back LOL He is not agressive at all
I also have 3 kenyi's... 2 males and 1 female (didn't know the sexes of them when I bought them) The one male is the king of the tank. He chases every other fish around and forces a lot of them to hide behing the heater or at the top of the tank "playing dead" He's a dominant one for sure. I feel bad for the others because I don't really have the pleasure of watching them swim around freely. They are always hiding from "The King". I have no other problems with my other 2 kenyi's... the female is a beautiful purple/blue color. One of my favorites.

better quality gets better colour.
i would say the yellow labs wouldnt bother them.
kenyi fems can stand up for them selves especially from yellow labs.

tanyaj77 said:

My experience with these fish is as follows.... I really like my yellow labs. My dominant male gets a black "beard" on his face when I stress him out by cleaning the tank or something. He's a digger, and has moved about 1/4 of the sand in the tank to make his own cave. I love to get in there with the siphon and move everything back and watch him frantically try and get his home back LOL He is not agressive at all
I also have 3 kenyi's... 2 males and 1 female (didn't know the sexes of them when I bought them) The one male is the king of the tank. He chases every other fish around and forces a lot of them to hide behing the heater or at the top of the tank "playing dead" He's a dominant one for sure. I feel bad for the others because I don't really have the pleasure of watching them swim around freely. They are always hiding from "The King". I have no other problems with my other 2 kenyi's... the female is a beautiful purple/blue color. One of my favorites.

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sounds like you have some stressed out fish, did you ever thing he needs to go to a tank where he is not bullyng the fish? I hate to see fish bullied so bad they have to hide non stop. not much fun for you either is it since you can not see them?

grannylvsfish said:

sounds like you have some stressed out fish, did you ever thing he needs to go to a tank where he is not bullyng the fish? I hate to see fish bullied so bad they have to hide non stop. not much fun for you either is it since you can not see them?

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No I agree it's not fun, and I hate to see the fish hide all the time. From what I have researched I am under the assumption that if the agressive male is removed from the tank that another will take his place as the agressor? Is this correct?

I'm sorry Erin14... didn't mean to steal your thread....
Off topic here, but we're almost neighbors... I'm located in Portage....

It would actually depend on the ratio of males to females in your tank, seeing is that you have 2 males and only 1 female could be the reason for aggression, if you take out the dom male (or either one of the males really) and add at least 2 more females it might get a little more peaceful.