Salvini Cichlid

[idlefingers]

I decided to take one of my convicts back before they decided to breed. I didn't realise quite how hard it would be to unload prospective fry until speaking with a few fish shops.

When taking the con back, I saw a bunch of really nice looking Salvini Cichlid which I couldn't resist. He's current;y about 3-4", and I'm soon going to be closing down my 200ltr community tank and setting it up for these guys (the convict and salvini), then later in time I plan to upgrade to a much larger tank.

It's amazing how quickly he changes colour. He's still settling in and spend a fair bit of time hiding, but he starting to come out. When hiding or just merrily swimming, his colours are lighter like the top picture, but then when you come near the tank his black comes out (like the second picture) within a second or two!

 

[Don Trinko]

the pickture with your post does not look like any Salvini I have ever seen. Don T.

 

[idlefingers]

the pickture with your post does not look like any Salvini I have ever seen. Don T.

yeah, I'm quite confused to be honest. The lfs was quite confident it was, but it doesn't look like picture I've found of them...

 

[idlefingers]

most pics I find look like this:

but then the odd one looks like this (more like mine):

His colours have only just started lighening up because he's just coming out of his shell, but I think he looks fairly similar to the second pic.

http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/other...ma_salvini.html

 

[DiscusAngel]

ive seen salvinis at 2-3" and they were yellow.. so i dont think you got a salvini there

 

[idlefingers]

he does look very much like the second pic in my previous post, though.

I'll try to get a pic from a similar angle to show his head like in that pic. (if he comes out of hiding before lights out)

 

[idlefingers]

it's a bit blurry, but it shows the similarities a bit more..

I'm well an truely confused now. What do you guys think it is if it isn't a salvini, then?

 

[DiscusAngel]

yea looking more like a salvini... probably just unsettled how big is he?

 

[idlefingers]

about 3-4". I bought him on saturday and he spent all sunday sulking, but he's been coming out more tonight, and his colours keep changing very fast. he's like a chameleon!

 

[DiscusAngel]

i think he just needs to settle in.

 

[Nevergone815]

i think he just needs to settle in.

Yea me too!

I think he will yellow up in no time. He could be in the "color change" stage of his life. I've noticed for the most part, many cichlids go through multiple changes as they go from juvie->subadult->adult and even a few in between.

It looks great!!! Nice pick up!!!