id help

[theicequeen]

Does he look like this guy?

 

[bluekrissyspike]

he looks a lot like that guy. i guess he could be a hybrid. i might have to take the bus down to the pet store to find out. i was hoping to not have to. it's pretty far. he has the same face as the above fish but he is bluer, not yellow. he also has spots down his side. two rows. not solid stripes. his belly keeps changing colours. i guess i am more hoping to find out if it is likely he will keep his pattern or if he will change to some solid colour. i would really like it if he keeps a pattern. either way he is mine now, so i will care for him just the same.

 

[bluekrissyspike]

still hoping to get some type on consensus though.

 

[theicequeen]

That is a pic of my guy. I was told he is an Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis Auratus),
Lake Malawi Mbuna Cichlids. When my guy /girl gets stressed the stripes fade a little making it look spotty.

 

[blue2fyre]

But this fish in question has blue across his face not yellow like an auratus would have. Could be an auratus mix. I'm still leaning towards johanni maybe just one that's in the process of changing color.

 

[bluekrissyspike]

But this fish in question has blue across his face not yellow like an auratus would have. Could be an auratus mix. I'm still leaning towards johanni maybe just one that's in the process of changing color.

you know what? i think you are right.

 

[Lab_Rat]

Could be a johanni x auratus hybrid. The first pic of the newer pics looks socolofi though.

 

[bluekrissyspike]

so, i went down to the lps and it is definately a johanni. if i were to keep it in the 29g, it's too small to add more right? how many could i add if i move it to the 55g? and what could i mix with them?

 

[Lab_Rat]

A 55g would be a great size for a johanni. I would do about 3-4 more johanni, 4-5 of another mbuna species, and 4-5 of yet another mbuna species. Johanni should get along with most mbunas.

 

[blue2fyre]

A 29 is a bit tight for mbuna. They really need at least a 3' tank, a 4' is even better. A 55 gallon is a perfect mbuna tank. If you decided to set up a 55 for him you could get a lot more. I have well over 20 mbuna plus catfish in my 55 gallon. But most of them are babies still.
If you set up the 55 gallon pretty much he can only go with other mbuna and some species of syno catfish. These guys are very aggressive, but are also very colorful. There are tons of mbuna species out there to choose from. For a 55 gallon I would pick 3 species you really like and have 5 of each, with one male to four females.