Melanochromis Loriae

[Hels]

Hi all!

can anyone give me any information on Melanochromis loriae please?? I've searched through all the normal channels and can't find any info apart from pictures on a google image search.... i thought maybe they must have been reclassified???

Thanks!

Hels

 

[mark7616]

Does this look about right?
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=755

 

[Ferris]

Yep, Melanochromis loriae is the original name for Melanochromis Chipokae. Pretty much the most aggressive Mbuna going and fairly hard to get hold of. I have one in my current Mbuna tank and he gets on fine with the others but thats probably because i added him as a juvenile to an established setup so he learned his place pretty quick. My other Mbuna are also aggressive in their own right.

A species to consider very carefully before purchasing.

 

[Hels]

Well… my boyfriend’s dad came home yesterday with what he thought were 5 melanochromis loriae … I searched around and came up with chipokae but the fish he has are more of an off white colour with black/brown stripes….definitely no bluey tone so I guess they must be something else?? He also said that he wanted another fish but the lady at my lfs advised him they were too aggressive for the blue zebras and yellow labs he also came home with !! I’m guessing he wrote the wrong name down…

Any ideas??

 

[Ferris]

Chipokae juveniles are a completely different colour ranging from black and white to yellow and brown before they turn purple and black and this variance differs bewteen male and females. If you can post some pics, we can have a look for you but i suspect they are still Chipokae, unless the LFS has got it completely wrong.

 

[Hels]

thanks Ferris, i'll go have a go with some pics!!

 

[Hels]

http/i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/Hels20/100_1688.jpg


http/i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/Hels20/100_1689.jpg

best i could do i'm afriad.... they're pretty camera shy....

if they're no good i'll try again tonight!

Thanks!

 

[Ferris]

They are not Chipokae after all that, they look like Auratus especially the 2nd pic.

Could also be Melanochromis dialeptos, see below

Melanochromis dialeptos