Fish Id

[OohFeeshy]

Saw these in Maidenhead Aquatics, unlabelled, appeared to be a pair, the only two of that species in the tank. Well, they looked to me to be the same species The shop assistant person had no idea, but for some reason I thought they might be a badis species. At £5 for the 'pair', I thought I might as well. On a quick google, however, they seem not to be badis species . According to one of the chat bods, they're african cichlids of some sort, which I was a bit puzzled by as that branch of MA has a huge, seperate african selection. Enough waffling, pictures.

The larger, duller, 'female' of the pair

The smaller 'male' has (when not under stress) the same sort of pattern, but is a very vivid blue. I'm *hoping* that if they're africans, they're shellies... So, what are they?

 

[SamUK]

post in the african cichlids forum. mite get more help.


they look reaaallly small in that pic so they could be shelldwellers and thats why they werent with the other malawis.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I gathered I'd get more hits here than in the african section . But sizewise, they are pretty tiny, between 2 and 3cm.

 

[SamUK]

thinking about it your probably right. everyone comes here no matter what fish they keep dnt they.



if they are that small id say definately shelldwellers. sorry i cant help more than that.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hmm, interesting idea... Lets see if I have a few lying around...

 

[Leslie]

They look like Neolamprologus Multifasciatus

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=93468

 

[Fella]

It's too big to be Neolamprologus multifasciatus. It's also blue, something multis aren't (unless there is a regional variant I'm unaware of).

I did assume at first it was a lamprologine though.

 

[Leslie]

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/neolamp-multi.htm

He also said they're between 2 and 3 cm

 

[ncjharris]

Erm, from that picture they look an awful lot like our multis.

Can't see the tail though - could be a brichardi?

EDIT: nope. http/www.gcca.net/fom/Neolamprologus_brichardi.htm

 

[Fella]

This is a picture of one of mine. He was the biggest I've ever seen.

I would be surprised if that fish turned out to be a multi, from the picture it looks large, and too blue.

Also, the guy that made that site, Sean Evans, sold me my multis

Also, I don't know if it's just the photo, but the eyes are different colours.

 

[Leslie]

I've seen multis that were blue but not to that extent as Fella said. It does indeed look bigger in the picture but Ooh says they're between 2 and 3 cm. That would fit, as well as the shape and pattern. Could very well be a Juvenille of some other species as well though.

 

[ncjharris]

now you mention it, the eyes are distinctly different.

 

[vancouver]

Tis neat looking whatever it is! Like the shiny blue coloring.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hmm, pretty sure they're not multis. If they've settled down a bit, I'll attempt to get a couple more photos.

Edit- Camera died, so for now I've isolated the smaller one, will go back up later. Anyway, yes, the eyes are yellow. And they are bluer, especially the smaller one. And typical multis seem to have too many stripes... I have a feeling they are two different species, as the other one, as well as being very blue, has a stripe along the lateral line area too. And tailwise, both are bog standard, non 'lyred'.

Edit 3- Here we go, the other one

 

[ncjharris]

Thats a better picture - yes, defo not multis or bricardis.

In terms of other shellies,
www.shelldwellers.com has some good picture sections. I had a very quick search, but couldn't see anything that looked like it.

If you do find out, can you please let us know what it is? ta