Id This Please?

[RedeyesUK]

Hi all,

a couple of months ago, I bought a selection of mbunas from my LFS, from their mixed tank - I think I've got most of them ID'd, but there's one that's got me stumped:

Any ideas?

One of the reasons I ask is that she was holding fry when we got her, and she released them pretty much as soon as she was home and settled - result, 17(ish) free fish!
All I can tell you about them (I've tried to get some good pics, but it's a struggle) is that they are starting to show a bit of colour, and seem a bit more orange than their mum.

Cheers!

 

[Colin_T]

No idea about the top one but the bottom pic looks a bit like a lombardi cross. Unfortunately buying fish out of mixed tanks isn't always a good idea. Lots of cichlids will hybridise and you get fish that are unable to be identified correctly.
Having said all that I'm not 100% on identifying Malawi cichlids so hopefully one of the cichlidophiles will be along shortly to give you a more positive id.
The fish look nice and healthy tho so at least they are being well looked after

 

[kj23502]

cichlidophiles

Anyways, all I have is a female of something. Just wanted to laugh at Colin's comment.

 

[RedeyesUK]

No idea about the top one but the bottom pic looks a bit like a lombardi cross

It's the same fish. Hard to tell I know, it does look like two different ones!

So you reckon a mongrel? That would make sense I guess... It'll be interesting to see what the fry turn out like, I've got no idea on what the father would be! They're looking like miniature versions of their mum at the moment, but definately starting to get an orange tint.

The fish look nice and healthy tho so at least they are being well looked after

Thankyou, I'm happy so far with the way the tank is turning out. It's a good healthy stock, and they're all settled in fine with no real aggression issues.

 

[jb12288]

Could it be Aulonocara guentheri? I am not an African Cichlid collector myself as I like South Americans, but I figured I would pop over here and try to help a bit, diversify myself. Sorry if it is wrong. Photo Here

 

[RedeyesUK]

Thanks for the help - the guentheri is close, very close, but I think the head shape is not quite right - it's more pointy than in my specimen.
No need to apologise, any pointers are helpful!

I'm a bit annoyed, I was at the LFS earlier and spotted what looked to be identical fish to mine. I took a note of the name to look up when I got back. I've looked it up now, and it was sciaenochromis fryeri - AKA electric blue hap. Unless I'm much mistaken, that's not what they are (they weren't blue for a start ), so I think maybe the shop had mislabelled them? I'll head back next week for another look I think.

 

[kj23502]

why don't you PM ferris w/this link and ask his opinion? Could try that

 

[jb12288]

I found two more that it could possibly be: aulonocara maylandi or lethrinops parvidens