Need Help Identifying...

[JumJumOPA]

Hey all, I recently bought two cichlids from an "Assorted Africans" tank at the pet shop...problem is, I dunno what kind they are. I was hoping someone could help me identify them? Here are the pics, these guys are hard to get a still of.

Thanks.

 

[fish_r_great]

Something like Pseudotropheus Desamoni. Cool but very aggressive fish.

 

[semper fi]

the top photo is a minutus. the bottom pic looks to be a p. kennyi maturing

 

[yhbae]

Not exactly two of the best species for someone getting into mbunas...

How large is your tank, and what fishes do you have in it?

 

[JumJumOPA]

Thanks guys. I'll put the fish in my signature...

I used to keep livebearers, but I gave them all to my brother for his tank. Originally I wanted to go for a bigger tank (30g) and move the brichardis in there with a few other cichlids, but I love what they did to the 10 gallon (personalized it) and decided to leave them. Also, I'm planning on replacing the gravel in the pictures with sand. Could someone tell me where I could get some/what type to use?

 

[yhbae]

You should read up more about mbuna first before getting into them - you won't regret it... I've only setup my first mbuna tank about 3 months ago, and I've learned alot since then. I too have started with a live bearer - platy.

You ended up with two of the most aggressive species out of mbuna - 20g will definitely be too small. 3ft tank is really the minimum. If your tank is 20g long (2.5ft tank), then you could try Yellow Labs, but other species are usually not recomended in small tanks.

Do you have any plans to upgrade the tank?

 

[JumJumOPA]

Hmm...I'm kinda short on cash right now and the cheapest I've seen a 30 gallon for is around $45. I'd also have to buy a new filter and I don't have a place to put a bigger tank Guess I'll hold off on buying any more fish. Thx for the advice.

 

[semper fi]

i got a q though. in the pic it looks like the stripes on the fish fade toward the tail. is that correct? is so, it is a minutus. demasoni and minutus are often mistaken for eachother. minutus is less aggressive than a demasoni and should be fine.

 

[JumJumOPA]

Yes, they do become more faint towards the tail but are still visible.

 

[JumJumOPA]

Erg...demasonis are more slender than minutus, right? I'm pretty sure that's what I've got. I have noticed some aggressive behavior towards the other fish, too.

 

[semper fi]

i think it is a minutus. may still have aggressive behavior as it is a mbuna. minutus tend to be more slender though. the two are often mistaken for each other

 

[JumJumOPA]

Here's another pic of it, just in case. And thanks again, I really appreciate it.