I need help to ID Cichlids and other constructive critique

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

Well one thing led to another and not planned but it happened, i now have a cichlid tank. One of my neighbors lost their house to foreclosure, had an aquarium with these fish in it. He kept the tank since it could go into storage, but gave me these fish.

I was told by him that these Cichlids are Malawi Lake Cichlids. Well for now, at least what quick research I did, I know they need plenty of rocks\caves for them to hide in, so when I have little extra money, I intend to re-do everything like adding more rock, getting rid of some of the plants and changing the substrate, though to be honest, blue is my favorite color.

What I need to know is: What kind of Cichlids I have? I would think that would be a good starting point.

Hopefully this site will let me post the pictures individual responses as I think it would help people and myself to identify each Cichlids.

To start, heres the tank.
John

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

The first fish

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

The second fish

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

The 3rd fish

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

the fourth

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

The fith fish

[kaybee]

Those are indeed malawi's.

From what I can tell

Fish 1: Mbuna; a melanchromis species of some sort, either m. johanni ('johanni') or m. cyaneorhabdos ('electric blue johanni'); I think it's the latter.

Fish 2: Mbuna; electric yellow lab (labidochromis caeruleus)

Fish 3: Hap; giraffe cichlid (nimbochromis venustus); these get large and max out at about 10".

Fish 4: Hap; malawi eye-biter (dimidiochromis compressiceps); these get larger and max out at about 11".

Fish 5: possible peacock, I'm not sure of the species.

[kaybee]

How large are the aquariums?

Mbuna's and peacocks are best kept in 55gal tanks, and in larger numbers. I wouldn't recommend keeping full grown specimens in anything smaller than a 55gal.

The type of haps you have will eventually require 6ft+ tanks (125gal+).

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I'd agree with 1, 2 and 3, but number 4 does not look like any D. compressiceps I've ever seen, the shape isn't quite right. Unless it is a Juvi, I don't think that is a compressiceps,

[ladyoutlaw50]

could the 3rd one be a Livinstonii -- they are a close relataive to the venustus???

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

No, number 3 is definitely a venustus. :)

[ladyoutlaw50]

I believe you -- I get them mixed up sometimes!!!:c12:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Unless it is a Juvi, I don't think that is a compressiceps,
Ok, well, by the looks of it is is a Juvi. LOL

That's understandable Lady, they are easily confussed. It will be much easier to tell as they get older though as the Venustus colors up nicer.

[kaybee]

Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir, could you post another 'broadside' pic of fish #4 for a better angle of that cichlid?

Yes, Livingstonni's and venustus' are very close relatives, both belonging to the nimbochromis genus and are similar in appearance when juvies.

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir, could you post another 'broadside' pic of fish #4 for a better angle of that cichlid?
As soon as I can nab my in-laws digital camera again. When you have a 4 and 6 year old kids that want to take a picture, your own camera tends to get broken. Gotta love kids.

First off....Wow, there's a dedicated following on this board.

Yes, they are currently in a 55 gallon tank which at some point I will be jumping to a 150 gl plus tank. That's when funds are available and the wife will let me.



A couple more questions, I know they like a cave like atmosphere(places to hide and own), though I read somewhere else(don't know if I can name the other site) that they tend to favor more rounded rock than what I currently have in there now. The added rock, should it be more round?

And since the bottom of the lake tends to be sand, should I consider this?

Last, they don't do it now, but something that I noticed with a couple of them, they tended to swim straight up and down like they were searching for a way out. Was this a stress issue of being introduced to the new tank?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I would definitely switch that tank over to a sand substrate. I used an aragonite substrate with my Malawis and they loved it, it also helped buffer the water. Furthermore, there are indications that the sand bottom also aids in digestion in that the fish will take some of the sand into their mouth and spit it back out again, however some of that sand does get swallowed. Scientists have surmised that it may be to aid in digestion, however this has never been substantiated. If you've ever seen a picture of the habitat of the mbuna, you will find it an interesting mix of mostly rounded with a few sharper rocks thrown in. The compressiceps is not an mbuna though, it is native to the deeper parts of the lake and has a slightly more carnivorous diet than they others.

[Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir]

Owner_Of_A_Tuff_Bichir, could you post another 'broadside' pic of fish #4 for a better angle of that cichlid?

I did find this picture of the same fish. Hopefully it is a better angle of the little bugger

[Lab_Rat]

I agree with kaybee on all of the ID's but the first one. I think the first one is Melanochromis interruptus with the vertical barring it shows.

[Dixie]

I'm not sure what #1 is but it isn't m. cyaneorhabdos (maingano or electric blue johanni) because of the vertical barring like Lab Rat said. I have maingano and can tell it isn't them.

[kaybee]

Could be pattern imperfections, a quality thing; I see these quite often in certain LFS's.

I agree that ideally, the stripe patterns should be well-defined with no verticals such as the one in your avatar.