My Keyhole Cichlids

[Comacchio]

Hi folks,

Looking for some opinions on my Keyholes - three look the same colours and 2 look slightly different colour and of those 2 one has a different head shape! Also have some other random pics of my tank/fish! Enjoy


Three by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Group by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Tank by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

The two that look different:


Male by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Male Keyhole by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

^ that one seems to be the boss of them all, this next guy hides quite often.


Final by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

Not sure on sex of this one


Keyhole-2 by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

Think this is the other original one


Keyhole by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

Now for some other random ones:


Rummies by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Rummy by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Nom by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

This fish was sold to me as a Red Head Tapajos - but I'm not sure!


Geo by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Geo-2 by Allan.Jones, on Flickr


Geo-3 by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

And finally for my small tank I got a betta. Need to sort the lighting on the tank though cause its rubbish! Had to push the picture in processing so it looks a bit grainy. Betta is a lot nicer in person!


Betta by Allan.Jones, on Flickr

 

[simonas]

lovely llooking fish, I cant help ith your question but I love the keyholes its been years since I kept them

 

[meguro]

1st pic, top left female others are male
2nd pic, centre female

not going to go through all the pictures as im not too great telling keyholes apart but basically the more curved and rounded the headshape/forehead the more likely the fish is female. males usually have dorsal and anal fin extensions that go past the length of their caudal/tail fin. and females usually have a rounder stomach while males have a flatter stomach

as for the geo i would guess either g. altifrons or g. surinamensis

fish look great and very nice photos thx for sharing

edit: actually the geo probably is a red head tapajos, it takes a while for the red colouration to come through i think

 

[Comacchio]

lovely llooking fish, I cant help ith your question but I love the keyholes its been years since I kept them

They are pretty awesome!

1st pic, top left female others are male
2nd pic, centre female

not going to go through all the pictures as im not too great telling keyholes apart but basically the more curved and rounded the headshape/forehead the more likely the fish is female. males usually have dorsal and anal fin extensions that go past the length of their caudal/tail fin. and females usually have a rounder stomach while males have a flatter stomach

as for the geo i would guess either g. altifrons or g. surinamensis

fish look great and very nice photos thx for sharing

edit: actually the geo probably is a red head tapajos, it takes a while for the red colouration to come through i think

Cheers for the reply, I possibly have 4 males and 1 female then, however I'm certain I have at least 2 males. The other 2 larger ones are slightly harder to sex as their fins don't extend past the caudal fin, just to the edge of it. I intend on adding 1 more female to the tank and that should be me (a bit over) fully stocked.

 

[Comacchio]

Curious behaviour from one of my males tonight! Seemed like breeding behaviour...

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW-AcHFK3bs

But then I moved the spoon to the other side of the tank and held some courgette down with it.. Keyhole is now defending it there too!

Crazy #29###!

 

[onidrase]

But then I moved the spoon to the other side of the tank and held some courgette down with it.. Keyhole is now defending it there too!

Crazy #29###!

it's probably defending the food rather than the spoon my cichlids will aggressively guard piles of blood worms or vegetables in the tank, even if they aren't eating the food themselves. I wouldn't call it breeding behavior, but it is certainly quite hilarious.

 

[Comacchio]

Anybody got any ideas on why i seem to have 2 different colours of Keyholes? Is it possible 2 of them are a hybrid between something else?

They've never taken on the more brown/relaxed colouration of my 1st, 2nd or 5th keys.

 

[talisker]

i don't think i've ever seen keyholes that look that good, very nice fish and in great condition

 

[Comacchio]

Woke up on Saturday night to hear a big bang as the medium sized Keyhole got spooked and went full pelt into the side of the tank.. She died today had been swimming diagonally for a day or so. Think she must have damaged her swim bladder or something.