Possible Yellow Tail Acei

[brandi_k1985]

I got this fish from a co-worker who had to get rid of her tank. She couldnt remember the name but said it was rare and she got it from petsmart. When I first put it the tank it was a light blue-purple color with the yellow fins. About an hr later I checked on it and it was a really dark purple with yellow fins. It is sharing a 55us gal with 6 yellow labs. After the first night it has stayed the lighter color. I looked thru the species index, saw the last picture and thought this might be my fish. I have posted a few pictures. The last picture is one of my yellow labs, or at least I think thats what it is. Please let me know if you think this fish is a yellow tail acei. Thanks

 

[saltwaterfanatic]

I got this fish from a co-worker who had to get rid of her tank. She couldnt remember the name but said it was rare and she got it from petsmart. When I first put it the tank it was a light blue-purple color with the yellow fins. About an hr later I checked on it and it was a really dark purple with yellow fins. It is sharing a 55us gal with 6 yellow labs. After the first night it has stayed the lighter color. I looked thru the species index, saw the last picture and thought this might be my fish. I have posted a few pictures. The last picture is one of my yellow labs, or at least I think thats what it is. Please let me know if you think this fish is a yellow tail acei. Thanks

it looks like a red top afra

 

[brandi_k1985]

I googled that name. It could be. Most of the pictures I was were more a dark blue with light stripes. I went to petsmart today and i think i seen the same fish, the name just said Acei Cichlid. Any one else, think they know what it is?

 

[Paradise3]

I got a pic that looks identical except it's abit lighter and doesn't have any colour except blue on it's tail. It was named trewavas red finned cichlid, i think it's a mbuna cichlid.
Not to good with cichlids so if i'm wrong i will be corrected i'm sure.

Pic.

Or i found this picture of a male yellow tail acei.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX

 

[demasonisrule]

looks like a red afra, but from a chain store it could be a hybrid of some sort

 

[dthoffsett]

I hate to disappoint your friend but the chances of Petsmart selling a rare mbuna is pretty much nil. I'd agree with the others, it's most likely a red top afra or one of the other variants, a nice healthy looking fish for sure.

Also, the "yellow lab" pictured isn't, it looks like a female Metriaclima estherae to me. Yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus) are a much more lemony yellow with a black band on their dorsal fins and black edging on their anal and ventral fins.

 

[brandi_k1985]

Thanks everyone. I think ill go with the red top afra dthoffsett the guy I got the "yellow labs" said they will get the black stripe if they are male. But out of 6 i would think 1 would have been male. But yes the yellow labs at petsmart are a bright yellow with the black stripe and these guys are orange/yellow. They are probably a hybred also. He is a breeder from home. Either way I them them. Thanks again.

 

[HappyGeorge]

Thanks everyone. I think ill go with the red top afra dthoffsett the guy I got the "yellow labs" said they will get the black stripe if they are male. But out of 6 i would think 1 would have been male. But yes the yellow labs at petsmart are a bright yellow with the black stripe and these guys are orange/yellow. They are probably a hybred also. He is a breeder from home. Either way I them them. Thanks again.

Definately Cynotolapia Afra Red Top - have a breeding pair, and recently got rid of a mature male who was being hassled by dominant breeder.
The Afra females tend to be a dull purply blue colour with very faint or no stripes and yellow fin edges. The males are as per your picture unless they are being bullied in which case they are pretty much the females colour.
They change colour a lot and very quickly, going dark if stressed or unsure about their dominance, when domonant male they will change to almost a ghostly white/blue with very strong black/dark blue lines especially on their head. Fabulous display of changing markings.

 

[saltwaterfanatic]

Yay i Was right!