maingano

[a.tetreault]

quick question, i noticed that in my tank about 2 or 3 maingano are very dark black with blue stripes, and some are lighter, why is this? the darker ones are definitely more aggressive, could it be that they are males? i will try to post pics, not of my fish but of the color difference.

 

[Malawi Freak]

I'm not too experienced with those but I think it could just be the lighter ones are subdominant. How old are they.

 

[a.tetreault]

not sure exactly but they are all about an inch and a half, i got them 2 weeks ago. when i got them they were all about the same color the lighter blue.

 

[stone1269]

I have 1 of those but I was told he was an electric blue johanni?? I'm confused lol here is a pic of mine

 

[Lady_Alia]

I always buy my maingano when they're young because mainganos are born blue where as the johanni (sp?) is born orangie yellow and males mature and turn blue.

I would say that if these guys are an inch and a half, they're maingano. The difference in color could be dominance or even better breeding parents. Whatever the reason, they're all pretty!

 

[a.tetreault]

I like both of the colors just wanted to make sure I didn't have some
crazy mutant fish

 

[toddnbecka]

I have 5, some darker and some lighter, and given their size (3"+) I suspect they're all males since none are or have been holding eggs.

 

[kay-bee19]

I have 1 of those but I was told he was an electric blue johanni?? I'm confused...

Electric Blue Johanni=Maingano=Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos. If you have an electric blue johanni, you have a maingano.

Johanni=Melanochromis johanni (begin life as yellowish fish as Lady Alia indicated, but matured males are very similar to maingano's).