What Are These Fish Can Someone Please Tell Me

[Sub-tropic-discus]

hi i went in to a lfs today and seen these there good price but i want to know what im putting in to my tank, can someone please let me know what they are, as u can guess the lable on the stores tank was assorted african cichlids, well dure but what are they please help

 

[doresy]

Picture? description?

 

[nmonks]

It's a Pseudotropheus of some sort (also and perhaps more properly known as Maylandia or Metriaclima depending on who you're talking to). Most of the cheap ones in pet shops are Pseudotropheus zebra based hybrids. A little time thumbing through a decent Malawian cichlid book may help you pin things down a bit, but if the pet shop doesn't know the species, assume it's a hybrid and act accordingly. The Malawian cichlid hobby has been ruined by hybrids, unfortunately. One problem is that a hybrid won't conform to type in terms of size, behaviour and colouration, so you really can't be sure what you're getting.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Sub-tropic-discus]

It's a Pseudotropheus of some sort (also and perhaps more properly known as Maylandia or Metriaclima depending on who you're talking to). Most of the cheap ones in pet shops are Pseudotropheus zebra based hybrids. A little time thumbing through a decent Malawian cichlid book may help you pin things down a bit, but if the pet shop doesn't know the species, assume it's a hybrid and act accordingly. The Malawian cichlid hobby has been ruined by hybrids, unfortunately. One problem is that a hybrid won't conform to type in terms of size, behaviour and colouration, so you really can't be sure what you're getting.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks, are hybrids bad then?

 

[nmonks]

Yes. Pure-bred Pseudotropheus species can be extremely beautiful. Take a look at the wild fish in a book by Loiselle or Konings. Then take a look at hybrids. Hybrids tend to be muddy blue or whatever with subdued fin colouration. With each generation the "mixed African cichlids" in many pet stores have got worse and worse. Hybrids really are a symptom of poor husbandry, and reflect the fact most folks keeping mbuna don't keep them very well, and certainly don't breed them properly.

Do, please, spend some time look at the real species, and get set to pay a decent amount for wild-caught or pre-bred specimens.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks, are hybrids bad then?