Vic ID

sorberj

sorberj

wannabe fish whisperer
Sep 14, 2009
699
0
16
McCleary, WA
Real Name
Jerad
I need confirmation of the ID on these guys. I"m pretty sure these are Haplochromis (Xystichromis) sp. Kyoga flamebacks, but would like confirmation from another set of eyes. Because of the controversies that I've seen erupt around ID of this species, Please state not only what you think they are, but why you think they are what they are. Links to pictures would be helpful too. I have two females that are holding right now and I want to be as sure as possible of the ID before any fry get distributed.

Here's the dom male:
picture.php


and a low ranking sub male
picture.php


Thanks in advance for the help!
 
LOL, you can also reply if you think the ID is correct
 
I'm not a Vic expert, but I think your ID is correct; according to some pics I have seen.
 
Thanks. The vertical barring on the sides of the sub and juvie males has been throwing me off on the ID.
 
You know what i have never owned a Vic setup before my friend is giving me a 56gal cube setup and it may have to be a Victorian setup i like these but i also like the Xmas Fulu's as well HMMM sounds like a plan..
 
It looks like a Flameback to me as well. I can't really state why I think that is what it is other than the fact that it matches the pictures I have seen of them.

I have noticed (at least on the websites I frequent) that Victorians are not nearly as popular as their Lake Malawi or Tanganyika counterparts. Is there a reason for this? Perhaps issues with availability? I've been considering picking up a group of Pundamilia Nyererei, which is the reason I am asking.
 
Kalen said:
It looks like a Flameback to me as well. I can't really state why I think that is what it is other than the fact that it matches the pictures I have seen of them.

I have noticed (at least on the websites I frequent) that Victorians are not nearly as popular as their Lake Malawi or Tanganyika counterparts. Is there a reason for this? Perhaps issues with availability? I've been considering picking up a group of Pundamilia Nyererei, which is the reason I am asking.
Click to expand...

I think Victorians are a bit of an afterthought. People looking for colorful aggressive african cichlids tend to go for mbunas and peacocks. People looking for more "interesting" fish tend to go for the Tanganikan cichlids.

I also think the availability issue is a chicken and egg situation. They are not available so that makes them more expensive(or a least a hassle to get) which means fewer people breed and distribute them.

I think it would be great for you to get some Victorian Cichlids. They are one class of fish where aquarists can definitely benefit the fish. While the particular species may not be endangered many of them are, and the more that are kept and bred the better. Because there is the potential for aquarium stock to be re-introduced at some point it is very important to keep track of the species and not mix ones that could hybridize.
 
verbal said:
I think Victorians are a bit of an afterthought. People looking for colorful aggressive african cichlids tend to go for mbunas and peacocks. People looking for more "interesting" fish tend to go for the Tanganikan cichlids.

I also think the availability issue is a chicken and egg situation. They are not available so that makes them more expensive(or a least a hassle to get) which means fewer people breed and distribute them.

I think it would be great for you to get some Victorian Cichlids. They are one class of fish where aquarists can definitely benefit the fish. While the particular species may not be endangered many of them are, and the more that are kept and bred the better. Because there is the potential for aquarium stock to be re-introduced at some point it is very important to keep track of the species and not mix ones that could hybridize.
Click to expand...

I think the hybridization issues are probably the biggest challenge for people thinking about getting into vics. It's hard to have a multicolored/multispecies tank without having hybridization occur, and it's harder for stores to keep them in a limited number of tanks due to aggression and hybridization problems. Personally, I love them and they have great personalities. I need to thin out some of my males soon so maybe there'll be a chance to get these guys spread out a bit more.
 
Thanks to both of you for answering my question.

Verbal, what are some of the endangered species of Vics that are available?
 
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