Are These Both Red Zebras?

[Cichlid_Crazy]

One of my 'Red Zebras' looks like the pic above wheras my bigger Red Zeb looks similar...is much more yellowy orange (opposed to peach) and has orange fins instead of Blue

They flirt and flick at eachother alot...but they look like 2 diff fish with similar colours.

The bigger one is closer looking to a yellow lab....possible hybrid?

Also while im on the id subject...

Any idea what this guy is? some people tell me its a Greshaki...others a Aurara and others have said hes a dirty yellow lab (hybrid)

Hes is 100% Mbuna...but I cant find a postive I.D anywhere ....nice looking fish tho!

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Yep its awesome....do you think they are the same fish then?

 

[mixmaster jay]

number 2 looks like a libidochromis caerelous (spelling lol)

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

I know! but it deffo aint, looks identical to all the other Zebras i own...just yellowy orange.

Here it is side by side with one oh my labs so you can see the diff

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Bumpage

 

[dthoffsett]

The top one would be a male estherae. Can you get a clearer head shot of the 2nd one? It's either a female estherae or a lab/estherae cross.

The 3rd one I haven't a clue. It's obviously mbuna but which one I don't know.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Its hard to get a good pic mate....Stoopid things move so fricken fast!!!!

I take it that its possible for Labidochromis species to cross with Pseudotropheus then? I always thought the species used to hybridise with fish of the same sub species when it came to Mbuna...both at home and in the aquarium...or so other sites/people have led me to believe! (remember I have only been a Mbuna keeper for about 6 weeks)

He literally looks like any other Generic Zebra but completely orange all over with the common egg spots....it looks identical to my 'cobalt zebras' which just so happen to be purple..blue...black...but then so does my true Red Zebra...jsut with prettier fins and more 'peach' than 'orange'.

Will have a go tommorow at gettin some pics

Heres my vids/ You Tube channel...have a look thru them you may get a better idea.

[URL="http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9AteMrvRTU"]http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9AteMrvRTU[/URL]

[URL="http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg2-fWSDOlA"]http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg2-fWSDOlA[/URL]

[URL="http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGGCInZXgOw"]http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGGCInZXgOw[/URL]

 

[dthoffsett]

Mbuna can cross breed with any other mbuna though they do tend to stick with their own sub species. I had a female lab that constantly bred with a M.callainos, pretty fry but they never lasted long.

However, labs are well known to cross with estherae and some store sell them as orange labs or yellow zebras.

The reason I asked for a head shot is that I can't quite tell if the mouth looks more like a lab or estherae.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Ahh i didnt know that! ....the mouthes are deffo like a zebra...they have what i call a 'dog face' whereas my labs almost have a 'beak'.

Have a look at the vids...deffo clearer then

 

[dthoffsett]

Ahh i didnt know that! ....the mouthes are deffo like a zebra...they have what i call a 'dog face' whereas my labs almost have a 'beak'.

Have a look at the vids...deffo clearer then

I'd say it's a female estherae.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Thanks

Do you think the greeny looking guy is a Aurarora or a Greshaki...somthing similar or something diff altogether? its beautiful whatever it is...even if it is a 'dirty hybrid'

 

[dthoffsett]

Thanks

Do you think the greeny looking guy is a Aurarora or a Greshaki...somthing similar or something diff altogether? its beautiful whatever it is...even if it is a 'dirty hybrid'

I don't think it's either of those, really not sure what it is.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Aurarora (how ever you spell it) seems to be the only Mbuna that has this type of colour from my searching...he doesent seem to be permanent green...but more metallic or 2 tone with permanent yellow fins....hes is the biggest fish in my tank @ 5"

My mate who is a Mbuna nut/breeder is certain it is a 'dirty yellow lab' but im not convinved...it has the 'eye spot or jewel' that Greshakis and Auraroras get...the only similar thing with a lab is its top fin...the rest is more 'zebra' looking.

Deffo some type of Metraclima or Pseudotropheus.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Yeh i mean I have 47 in total...5 adults in my main display...42 in fry tank, none of which look anything like my 'Red Zebra' or my green unknown Mbuna....except for his top fin.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Possibley a Pseudotropheus Saulosi ?