Black Blotched Zebra Cichlid

[Sharptooth]

Hi im new to the site and have a question, I have a 55 gallon with a pelco, a peacock eel, ornate bichir and some african cichilds I think i have two zebra cichlids they are orange with black blotches. One of them i think is a male(has 4 spots on the anal fin) he chases the other cichlids but mainly chases the other zebra(i think might be a female has no spots on anl fin) The zebra that i think might be a male dose this shaking thing, the fishes body shakes (like its mad or something) and then darts around chasing other fish? The fish looks very heathy and it dose not do this all the time. I dont know if its stress or what? All the other fish are peacefull for the most part. IDK why this cichlid dose this? Anyone seen it before?

 

[eggo]

lip lockin, fanning and tail chasing is over dominance

shaking, flashing and circling with out biting usually breeding

 

[Sharptooth]

lip lockin, fanning and tail chasing is over dominance

shaking, flashing and circling with out biting usually breeding

I vented/sexed both of them earlyer, i did it twice and im confident that one is female & the other a male. If they do breed i do not think the fry would survive with the other cichilds, eel and bichir? Should i put them in a 29 tall for a breeder, any one have any suggestions??

 

[Mauigirl]

lip lockin, fanning and tail chasing is over dominance

shaking, flashing and circling with out biting usually breeding

I vented/sexed both of them earlyer, i did it twice and im confident that one is female & the other a male. If they do breed i do not think the fry would survive with the other cichilds, eel and bichir? Should i put them in a 29 tall for a breeder, any one have any suggestions??

My opinion would be to Let em hold in the tank they are in, if your set on keeping the fry then either add a pile of smallish rocks that the adults can't enter nor move , or strip the female once hatched but still brooding in her mouth. there is a better chance of them breeding and successfully brooding where they feel at home.

 

[eggo]

are you sure they are zebra's has your description makes me feel they are ob peacock (orange blotch), google this to see pics or take a pic of your fish and upload, you cannot sex malawi's by there egg spots has alot of females have them and some of the malawi species females have more egg spots than males, i have never vented a fish so can not advice, if you want to keep the fry then the minimum you will need is a 10 gallon for her to be in. ( 24" x 10" x 10" ) with the bare minimum of equipement air driven sponge filter, heater, and a couple of rock and no subsrtate

 

[Mauigirl]

are you sure they are zebra's has your description makes me feel they are ob peacock (orange blotch), google this to see pics or take a pic of your fish and upload, you cannot sex malawi's by there egg spots has alot of females have them and some of the malawi species females have more egg spots than males, i have never vented a fish so can not advice, if you want to keep the fry then the minimum you will need is a 10 gallon for her to be in. ( 24" x 10" x 10" ) with the bare minimum of equipement air driven sponge filter, heater, and a couple of rock and no subsrtate

good point.

I was assuming he had Red zebra with some black spots on em. Pretty common to see that here and there. Not to mention that even in OB's the female will not show color.
And you will rarely if ever find females for sale in shops unless bought super young. At least not around here.

Excellent Picture of ob peacocks borrowed from another random forum.