Help to ID this lake Cichlid Please

[CWO4GUNNER]

Im acclimating it or id take a photo, tomorrow for sure so I can return it if not compatible.

It has a long slender body almost exactly like my adult Marlieri tan & black striped colored Cichlid, only its bigger about 3.5 inches a little fatter and is primarily black with a dark horizontal dark blue stripe running the mid section with light blue highlights stripes on the face.

On discouraging thing is he is really thrashing the bag im dripping and aerating. Anyway I cant find I photo of him and VetSmart has no idea what it is other then an A. Cichlid out of their large assorted tank just delivered, it is the only one.

 

[toddnbecka]

W/out a pic I'd say your best chance for a quick ID would be here: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Thanks, Uh-Oh its dead ringer for Melanochromis auratus which I hope not becasue I apparently have a yellow and black stripe one of the same species which I though was Julidochromis marlieri.

Now I think I know aht actually killed my 2" true Julidochromis marlieri It must have been what is apparently my yellow and black stripe Melanochromis auratus and now I know why there was such a size difference as the former gets to 5" long as is considered extremely aggressive. Also my yellow and black stripe hasn't left the side of the 10" floating breeder I have the new black and blue one in. Oh boy now I have to find out if they are male and female or they will fight to the death according to the write up.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=750

 

[toddnbecka]

Auratus are one of THE worst cichlids for a community tank. The main problem is that a male claims about 4-5' of territory, and aggressively defends it. They do well enough in a species tank with multiple females, given sufficient cover, but most folks get rid of them asap once they find out what they have.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Here are the photos of the existing one fist which is pretty docile toward the community at almost 4", but is butting the breeder container of the new black one at least when Im not taking photos (last photo). What do you think or is it/they somthing else?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Anyway I have the receipt and already asked if I could bring it back if its not compatible. Whatever it is it looks much better in person as the photo at night does it no justice. Please let me know if anyone can ID either one as they seem pretty interested in each other and no other fish are at the breeder so i can move it from the breeder tomorrow to a bag or release into the community.

Thanks.

 

[toddnbecka]

Definitely look like auratus, one being a young male in transition to his adult colors.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Well found more info and supporting photo descriptions and without a doubt I have a male in the breeder and a female in the tank. So now I have to decide if I want to breed them (not crazy about that idea) or take the male back and it looks like that would be the prudent choice.

But at lest I know what killed the other smaller one as the females are also killers of other females. Well at least I know now not to be looking for more bright yellow females or males, money saved I guess as I will be taking the male back tomorrow. Ill keep the female as I never see her go after any of the other species.

OK thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction and Iv leaned something new (priceless).

 

[AfroCichlid]

You're still picking fish at random out of the " Assorted African Cichlid " tank. These are almost ALWAYS going to be Mbuna and maybe a few Haps. They label them " assorted ", but " inter-bred " would be more accurate. They're almost never pure bred. So far you've come home with bumblebees, kenyis, and auratus. Arguably the 3 most aggressive species of Mbuna. You'd do well buying a book such as Enjoying Cichlids by Ad Konings or other similar book that will help you make informed decisions BEFORE you buy rather than going through the hassle of buying and returning fish. Or bring your notebook and write the names of the fish down ( surely SOMEone there knows ), and post them here.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

You're still picking fish at random out of the " Assorted African Cichlid " tank. These are almost ALWAYS going to be Mbuna and maybe a few Haps. They label them " assorted ", but " inter-bred " would be more accurate. They're almost never pure bred. So far you've come home with bumblebees, kenyis, and auratus. Arguably the 3 most aggressive species of Mbuna. You'd do well buying a book such as Enjoying Cichlids by Ad Konings or other similar book that will help you make informed decisions BEFORE you buy rather than going through the hassle of buying and returning fish. Or bring your notebook and write the names of the fish down ( surely SOMEone there knows ), and post them here.

Well for the most part I agree with you but I happen to live in a small town where the chain LFS only has its Africans in assorted tanks by size. The Mbuna's they have by species is the Lab only. As far as reference before buying I gave it the try at the puny book counter and asked the attendent. So then the Cichlid was unusual and unusual doesn't last long here so of course I got it with the intention of asking for reference on the internet better then any publication for research. And what do you know but member toddnbecka was good enough to help me out with my request for the very same point you are making. So everything worked out toddnbecka came through for me. As far as making more mistakes in areas I'm learning about, your right it isn't the first time I made a minor mistake and you can bet most assuredly it will not be my last.