Cichlid ID ? - Aquarium Advice

jibboo · 11-16-2005, 01:02 PM

Sorry, this may be tricky since I'm guessing these guys are real young ... they are about 1 inch.

**Fishyfanatic** · 11-16-2005, 01:19 PM

I was thinking possibly a Kenyi, but the head shape appears to be different. Try comparing the pics and see what you think.

jibboo · 11-16-2005, 01:59 PM

yeah, I went through http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com...fish_list.html but didn't see any definite matches. I was able to identify the other little cichlids i picked up as melanochromis auratus ... but didn't see anything that was a lock on these guys. Of course after looking at 50+ pictures, I'm not sure what I was looking for anyways ... [acronym:21c3b55387="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:21c3b55387]

TankGirl · 11-16-2005, 02:09 PM

Kenyi is a good possbility - but the head is a little blunter and the fin patterns make me wonder about hybridization. I'm going to put on my thinking cap and see if I can come up with anything else. I love this kind of thing!

**Fishyfanatic** · 11-16-2005, 02:10 PM

If the other fish is infact an Auratus, be very cautious. They are extremely aggressive, one of the most aggresive African Cichlids. I have heard stories of the Auratus ripping apart fish twice their size. It's just a aheads up to be careful. Is it a male or female?

It is also a possibility that the other fish is a mix. Try posting on the forum of wwww.malawimayhem.com. The members are great at IDing Africans that are not common. They can also normally spot a mix very easily.

jibboo · 11-16-2005, 02:23 PM

yeah, they were an impulse buy ... currently my loaches are finding great enjoyment at trying to figure out what these guys are (of course being 4x the size of the little cichlids is weighing greatly in their favor)

TankGirl · 11-16-2005, 02:30 PM

Well, also you have to consider that the striped is almost surely a mbuna, and they will tear up plants, in general. Your tetras and possibly the otos, even the loaches are possibly at risk with auratus and mature mbuna. You have some time as they mature but this is a very risky mix, [acronym:01080e0b32="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:01080e0b32].

poppab02 · 11-16-2005, 02:48 PM

Yeah, if you just put those in your tank in your sig you are in for some serious trouble in not too long. Those cichlids will eventually take out all of those inhabitants with the possible exception of some of the pleco's.

poppab02 · 11-16-2005, 02:53 PM

Oh and on the [acronym:64e61b4927="Identify"]ID[/acronym:64e61b4927], he definitely looks like a Kenyi mixed with something else, not really sure what else though. Definitely check out Malawi Mayhem though those guys are good as FF said. I'm assuming you purchased him out of an "Assorted Africans" tank, am I right? IF so he is almost certainly a mutt.

**Fishyfanatic** · 11-16-2005, 03:00 PM

The coloration/stripes look like a Kenyi. The tail pattern defiantely looks like the Kenyi. But the face doesn't look like the Kenyi.

11-16-2005, 01:19 PM	#2
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	I was thinking possibly a Kenyi, but the head shape appears to be different. Try comparing the pics and see what you think. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

11-16-2005, 02:09 PM	#4
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	Kenyi is a good possbility - but the head is a little blunter and the fin patterns make me wonder about hybridization. I'm going to put on my thinking cap and see if I can come up with anything else. I love this kind of thing! __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

11-16-2005, 02:10 PM	#5
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	If the other fish is infact an Auratus, be very cautious. They are extremely aggressive, one of the most aggresive African Cichlids. I have heard stories of the Auratus ripping apart fish twice their size. It's just a aheads up to be careful. Is it a male or female? It is also a possibility that the other fish is a mix. Try posting on the forum of wwww.malawimayhem.com. The members are great at IDing Africans that are not common. They can also normally spot a mix very easily. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

11-16-2005, 02:30 PM	#7
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	Well, also you have to consider that the striped is almost surely a mbuna, and they will tear up plants, in general. Your tetras and possibly the otos, even the loaches are possibly at risk with auratus and mature mbuna. You have some time as they mature but this is a very risky mix, [acronym:01080e0b32="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:01080e0b32]. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

11-16-2005, 02:48 PM	#8
poppab02 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Orleans Posts: 542 Images: 3	Yeah, if you just put those in your tank in your sig you are in for some serious trouble in not too long. Those cichlids will eventually take out all of those inhabitants with the possible exception of some of the pleco's. __________________ Pray for New Orleans and all those affected by Hurricane Katrina

11-16-2005, 02:53 PM	#9
poppab02 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Orleans Posts: 542 Images: 3	Oh and on the [acronym:64e61b4927="Identify"]ID[/acronym:64e61b4927], he definitely looks like a Kenyi mixed with something else, not really sure what else though. Definitely check out Malawi Mayhem though those guys are good as FF said. I'm assuming you purchased him out of an "Assorted Africans" tank, am I right? IF so he is almost certainly a mutt. __________________ Pray for New Orleans and all those affected by Hurricane Katrina

11-16-2005, 03:00 PM	#10
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	The coloration/stripes look like a Kenyi. The tail pattern defiantely looks like the Kenyi. But the face doesn't look like the Kenyi. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

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