I have some pictures of my new fish - I know they are very poor quality but I was wondering if anyone could identify any of them for me. I would like to know for compatibility reasons. I did not buy these fish myself, I was given them by a friend who is moving and didn't think the fish would survive a 1000 mile trip in a hot car.
All I really know about them is that they're all about 6 months old and have grown up together. They were originally bought as 'assorted African cichlids'.
This first one is an interesting one. I think she might be a Melanochromis auratus or a hybrid. She is the largest fish, around 3.5" and was a bit aggressive the first day. The last few days, though, she has settled in and has been surprisingly nice to the other fish (she might nip at them if they get too close, but doesn't chase anyone). She also changes colors sometimes -she can go from pale gold with light gray stripes to a sort of mustard yellow with deep black stripes.
The next two, not sure what they are, seem to be males of the same species. When I put them in the tank they were both sort of pale gray with slightly darker gray stripes, which I'm guessing is a stressed coloration. Within an hour or two they both changed to a pretty pale gold coloration with stripes. By the next day, only one male was gold and the other was changed back to gray and hiding in a cave. The poor gray male spends all the time in the cave since if he so much as peeks out the gold male will chase him back in. Once I saw the two of them 'kissing' - but no actual fighting. Still, I don't think the gray male is very happy, so I'll probably take him out.
There are 3 gold colored fish. I suspect two of them might be female red zebras. I also saw one of the above two striped males displaying to one of them (shaking). The third one looks just a little different, with a longer body, and very faint striping on its head.
And, finally, there is one fish who is a solid brownish color with a faint bluish sheen. No real markings. He spends most of his time hiding even though the other fish don't bother him a lot. The photo is very poor so I don't know that it will be any help.
Thank you for any help.
All I really know about them is that they're all about 6 months old and have grown up together. They were originally bought as 'assorted African cichlids'.
This first one is an interesting one. I think she might be a Melanochromis auratus or a hybrid. She is the largest fish, around 3.5" and was a bit aggressive the first day. The last few days, though, she has settled in and has been surprisingly nice to the other fish (she might nip at them if they get too close, but doesn't chase anyone). She also changes colors sometimes -she can go from pale gold with light gray stripes to a sort of mustard yellow with deep black stripes.
The next two, not sure what they are, seem to be males of the same species. When I put them in the tank they were both sort of pale gray with slightly darker gray stripes, which I'm guessing is a stressed coloration. Within an hour or two they both changed to a pretty pale gold coloration with stripes. By the next day, only one male was gold and the other was changed back to gray and hiding in a cave. The poor gray male spends all the time in the cave since if he so much as peeks out the gold male will chase him back in. Once I saw the two of them 'kissing' - but no actual fighting. Still, I don't think the gray male is very happy, so I'll probably take him out.
There are 3 gold colored fish. I suspect two of them might be female red zebras. I also saw one of the above two striped males displaying to one of them (shaking). The third one looks just a little different, with a longer body, and very faint striping on its head.
And, finally, there is one fish who is a solid brownish color with a faint bluish sheen. No real markings. He spends most of his time hiding even though the other fish don't bother him a lot. The photo is very poor so I don't know that it will be any help.
Thank you for any help.
