New to Cichlids....need help identifying these fish

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cmjdjm1

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Feb 10, 2011
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Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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Chris
Evening everyone! Now please keep in mind Im completely new to cichlids. I recently got ahold of some cichlids and need help in knowing what they are so I can best take care of them. The blue one I think is an Ice Blue Red Top I think, Yellow one Im not too sure because the sides have flecks of blue in it depending on the angle you see it at. The striped ones I was told were SP44's and are starting to get yellow between the stripes, and the other kind Im completely clueless. Its kind of an orangy peach colour with a tinge of blue near the head, and more orange on the fins. Ive only had them a few weeks now, but they seem to be doing real well. Nothing floating yet! lol Any help would be appreciated.

IMG_0203.JPG IMG_0207.JPG IMG_0211.JPG IMG_0219.JPG IMG_0221.JPG
 

Lab_Rat

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Dec 3, 2009
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First pic is a Metriaclima greshakei (zebra red top), second/third pics do look like a vic, so the Hap Sp. 44 sounds reasonable, fourth pic is a yellow labidochromis (who looks a bit bloaty), and the last pic is another greshakei.
 

cmjdjm1

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Feb 10, 2011
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Chris
Thanks for the quick reply. What do you mean vic? As for the yellow one, I don't think he has bloat. He's still very active, and hasn't changed his eating habit at all. I've been feeding them twice a day light meals (as the previous owner did) I'll definitely keep an eye on it though to be sure. I've been keeping a close eye on all of them actually for any signs of stress etc.. from the move from their old home to their new one here.
 

Lab_Rat

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Dec 3, 2009
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Vics are Victoria basin cichlids. Your other fish are Lake Malawi mbuna. Make sure the mbuna get a diet that has a lot of veggies and are not fed high protein foods.
 

cmjdjm1

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Feb 10, 2011
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Any particular veggies to give them and how often? How would i be able to give the ones that like veggies what they like, and the ones that like proteins the stuff they like? **** cichlids are so confusing!
 

Lab_Rat

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Zucchini, dark leafy veggies, green beans, etc, are good veggies to feed. You can blanch or freeze the veggies first to soften them up if you want. A high quality food with lower protein content will be good for the mbuna. The one that doesn't fit dietary wise is the Hap Sp 44, as it is a carnivore. It should still be fine with a well balanced pellet though. I like to feed NLS and the veggie FX dainichi for mbuna.
 

cmjdjm1

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Feb 10, 2011
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Chris
okay, thanks for all your help. Although veggies usually never enter my house, i guess I'll have to buy some! lol Do you think maybe a bag of frozen peas would be good? Im sure they'd be soft for them once they were thawed out
 

rtbob

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Jul 22, 2010
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I feed my Mbuna Omega One Veggie Flakes or the Super Veggie Flakes as their staple.

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