Help Identifing These Cichlids

[the420buzz]

First off, very sorry if it turns out this should have been posted in the African/Old World forum, but I'm not sure what they are to begin with.

Long story made short of how I got them: An old friend told me I could have her 30gal. Before I went to pick it up, she let me know that she had fish in it that I could take - 3 cichlids and a pleco. Didn't tell me about the sizes or - more importantly - what they were living like. Once I had arrived, I found possibly the worst example of a fishkeeper yet. The water was nearly black, and you couldn't even see the fish through the side unless they swam up to the glass. There were random items in the bottom - random as in tacks, toothpicks, broken glass, beer caps, you name it. I couldn't believe the fish were alive. Bagged them up (thank you to my LFS for free bags btw) and packed it all into the car. After a long day of cleaning, I finally had it nearly brand new, but I had a dilemma on my hands. 3 cichlids and a pleco all stuffed into my 5 gallon that obviously could not live in it (it was only empty tank I had open while I cleaned the 30gal, and they would of mauled everything in my 15). In my eyes, they were much better off in the freshly filled 30gal.

Sorry for the boring story, but I'd have to explain it sometime I'm sure. Anyways, I'm pretty sure the smallest cichlid is a Convict, however the other two I am clueless on besides the fact I think they're the same species. It'd be awesome if you guys could help me out

Heres the pics:

Unknown Cichlid 1

Very nice colors in person, though a bit light (perhaps still getting used to the tank). Light purple-ish body. Black, white, yellow on fins.

Unknown Cichlid 2

Smaller than 'unknown cichlid 1', but I believe may be the same species? They both have mostly the same color pattern and fins, except this one (#2) seems more reddish.

Convict? Cichlid

Smallest of the 3 cichlids. He seems to get along well with the biggest (#1), while the other tends to give chase to him. #1 quickly steps up and chases #2 off, however, so it seems to work itself out. He seems to be swimming at an angle a slight bit though, is this normal? Other than that, he seems fine.

Unknown Plecko

I know this is the cichlid section and all, but any help towards figuring out this pleco's species would be greatly appreciated as well.


Thanks a bunch to anyone who can help out. They are beautiful fish and I'd love to keep them if I can, but if needed I could possibly rehome them, or possibly bring them to my LFS.

 

[mixmaster jay]

i think pics 1 and 2 are labidochromis hongi male and female in that order pic 3 is a convict cichlid pic 4 looks abit like a L001 or L012 but it may not be any of those as the pic is abit blurry mate
http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/numbe...l&thumbs=16

 

[the420buzz]

Ah, I forgot to mention that. My camera apparently can't take a clear photo for it's life (except for a macro mode that I forgot about using).

I don't really think 1 and 2 are labidochromis hongi, after looking at a few pics. Very similar, but the top fin isn't pure yellow, and definitely not that bright either. However, I'm pretty sure you nailed the pleco dead on (L001) as he looks a lot like him, and his tail fin (excuse my lack of technical terms) flare open like that as well. L012 is close, but no cigar.

I'll keep looking at pics of labidochromis hongi and see what I can compare though. Once again, sorry for the blurry pics.

 

[the420buzz]

Having a look through the Fish Species index on here, I'm thinking they may be Pseudotropheus elongatus (they look very similar to the Mbenji blue, except they have a yellow outline on the tip of their fins).

Let me know what you guys think.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=171162 -> The Pseudotropheus "elongatus Mbenji Blue"

http/www.c-u-w.net/jpg/pseudotropheus_el...mba_%28m%29.jpg -> Pseudotropheus elongatus on Google, nearly identical except for color differences.

Another thought though, could the Pseudotropheus elongatus possibly breed with the Pseudotropheus Sp"zebra Long Pelvic" Chesese? I say that because they somewhat look similar, and the fish I have look more like the Pseudotropheus elongatus but with the Pseudotropheus Chesese colored fins. May be the answer, but probably is not.

 

[mixmaster jay]

i had a shoal of 30 hong's but i see what you mean but mine went yellow when in mating season otherwise quite dull
http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquarium/fish_list.html

http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquar...tus_usisya.html abit more like it with the dorsol fin colouring

 

[the420buzz]

Awesome link, and even after looking at (litterly) every cichlid on the list, I still believe they're in the Pseudotropheus elongatus family. The 2nd link you posted looks like them, except they've got more color to them, instead of the brown, wildish look. They've got stripes, as well. My medium cichlid is a brownish-red though, however. The larger one is a nice shade of purple, mixed with the black and yellow on his fins.

EDIT: At the same time, they could be having a bit of color loss at the moment from the move and all. If they do brighten up and/or change in colors, I'll hopefully update the pictures.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Top one...going by the fin markins looks a 'bit' like a member of the Elangatus spectrum...although these fish always tend to have darker markings.

Possibley a Hongi.

number 2 is some type of Zebra i think...although not certain...possibley a hybrid.

3 is deffo a convict.....be cautious mixing these with Mbuna as mine killed and ate both a adult convict and a juvi jack dempsey (aswell as 3 clown loaches and a sub adult bristlenose!)

number 4 looks like a common plec or a gibbi to mer...but then im not very good at id'ing plecs.

 

[the420buzz]

They do resemble the Hongi very much, but their yellow isn't as vibrant as the Hongi's, the top fin isn't solid yellow either and it doesn't continue onto their body. I'm almost positive they are in the elongatus spectrum as today they have got a ton darker, nearly black now. I've got better pictures on my girlfriends camera, I've just got to get the USB cord for it from her so I'll put them up soon.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

My hongis have very orange fins

 

[the420buzz]

Ah, sorry if they do differ in colors. I was going off google images.