Need Help Identifying Cichlid!!

[Rollins4Miles]

Can anyone help me identify this cichlid? I have found pictures that are close but nothing is spot on. The closest I have come is an Electric Blue Cichlid but I am not certain.

It may not be visible in the pictures but there are yellow spots on his anal fin.

Any help is much appreciated...Thanks!!

[Rollins4Miles]

Nevermind, I finally found out what it was through hours of searching... Apparently it's a chipokae. Don't know too much about them...research has said they are highly aggressive but I have yet to see it...

[Lab_Rat]

I'd agree with chipokae. And they are highly aggressive, one step below the auratus. Most of the Melanochromis species are extremely aggressive. What are it's tankmates?

[rhonin]

Nice looking male.

If he is in your 75 it is big enough but he will become very aggresive at some point (unless you are really lucky!).

I recommend to give some thought now (or plans) when he gets mean later.

My LFS won't even stock these anymore (except by request) due to the number of issues they have had and their customers have had.

Best of luck! It is a nice looking fish.

[Rollins4Miles]

It's tank mates are: 4 African Clawed frogs, black ghost knife, ruby red cichlid, electric blue jack dempsey, yellow pleco (that's what it was sold as but I was told on here that it may be a green phantom pleco), green spotted puffer, 3 tiger barbs, and 6 zebra danios...

When the chipokae was put into the tank, it was obvious that it was going to be the second dominate fish (after the black ghost knife). It was chasing the other cichlids away from its structure for hours, especially the EBJD. But now the EBJD and the chipokae cruise the tank together. The chipokae hasn't bothered the frogs at all (who actually dominate the entire tank) and the other fish haven't been bother either. I'm hoping for the best but I'm going to have to play it by ear.

I already have to get another tank in the near future for the puffer. Perhaps the 125g for the other fish may be coming soon as well...

[Lab_Rat]

It's tank mates are: 4 African Clawed frogs, black ghost knife, ruby red cichlid, electric blue jack dempsey, yellow pleco (that's what it was sold as but I was told on here that it may be a green phantom pleco), green spotted puffer, 3 tiger barbs, and 6 zebra danios...

When the chipokae was put into the tank, it was obvious that it was going to be the second dominate fish (after the black ghost knife). It was chasing the other cichlids away from its structure for hours, especially the EBJD. But now the EBJD and the chipokae cruise the tank together. The chipokae hasn't bothered the frogs at all (who actually dominate the entire tank) and the other fish haven't been bother either. I'm hoping for the best but I'm going to have to play it by ear.

I already have to get another tank in the near future for the puffer. Perhaps the 125g for the other fish may be coming soon as well...

That's quite a random assortment of fish, how long have they all been together? Glad to hear you have other plans for the puffer as he needs to be in a brackish tank. Upgrading tank size is good, but I'd be concerned about sorting out the compatibility issues before you start to have problems.

[Rollins4Miles]

The frogs have been in there for about 10 weeks. The black ghost knife and pleco have been in there for 6 weeks. Green spotted puffer has been 3 weeks. The EBJD and ruby red cichlid have been in there for a little over a week. And the chipokae is fresh today.

The only, what I would call somewhat more serious, incident was when the puffer nipped at the black ghost knife's face and the ghost went off on the puffer. I've noticed the ghost is extremely aggressive when provoked by other fish, not by the frogs though.

I just came back from watching the tank though it's a bit more difficult to see with the moonlights on...and I noticed that the chipokae would nudge the frogs from behind, either in a playful manner or as if he was trying to scoot them along. If the frogs didn't move, which happened more times than not, the chipokae would just move along.

I hope his nudging is not a mere foreshadow of a what's to come. All the other fish let the frogs bump into them and climb on them, none have interacted the way the chipokae has. Hopefully they'll be friends.

So I guess in sum, everything has gotten along so far. We'll see if it changes due to a new member...

Note - All residents in the tank are juveniles. I tried to have it this way so the fish grew up knowing each other and would get along. I'm not that worried about the danios as I figured the frogs would eventually have their way with them.

[Lab_Rat]

I'd be taking that chipokae back for sure. With that assortment I'd bet a decent amount of money you'll run into trouble sooner rather than later. With the mbuna, aggression doesn't necessarily surface until they hit sexual maturity, then WHAM, you've got big time problems. I wouldn't be surprised if your chipokae starts killing those frogs if he has already started picking on them. Mbuna aren't known for being playful.

That assortment of fish has very different water parameters, feeding needs, and body language. It would be best to figure out a reasonable stocking plan and rehome those that don't fit. You'll definitely want a 125g for the BGK when he gets older.

[Scrup]

Yeah..the Mbuna aggression things seems to happen overnight. you come in, and everything is stuck in one corner of the tank and bleeding.

If anything keep a very close eye on things...

[hari-goshi]

I'd be taking that chipokae back for sure. With that assortment I'd bet a decent amount of money you'll run into trouble sooner rather than later. With the mbuna, aggression doesn't necessarily surface until they hit sexual maturity, then WHAM, you've got big time problems. I wouldn't be surprised if your chipokae starts killing those frogs if he has already started picking on them. Mbuna aren't known for being playful.

That assortment of fish has very different water parameters, feeding needs, and body language. It would be best to figure out a reasonable stocking plan and rehome those that don't fit. You'll definitely want a 125g for the BGK when he gets older.
I agree with this. The Chipokae can be horribly aggressive when they start to reach maturity , and even before. Quite possibly the most aggressive mbuna.

[Rollins4Miles]

I have noticed that the chipokae is a bit hyperactive. The other cichlids will slowly cruise around while the chipokae darts places, seems edgy, and stalks things (though never does anything about it, seemed more like curiosity than anything). The chipokae will also swim up against the glass. Though the EBJD does this as well, when the chipokae does it sand goes flying! Ha maybe I should give him some Dramamine like my parents used to give me on long trips...

On a somewhat related topic...does anyone know a way to get a cichlid to start eating? I've had my ruby red cichlid for a bit over a week and may have seen him eat twice; one of those times spitting it out. I've tried guppies, ghost shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, meal worms, frog pellets, floating cichlid pellets, sinking cichlid pellets, even peas! Nothing has worked. He just seems overly passive and won't go after anything. Maybe he's afraid of me and feeds after i leave perhaps? (I may just start a new thread for this topic)

[Lab_Rat]

The ruby red may be intimidated by the other fish. Peacocks are pretty laid back fish (for african cichlids). He's not a good mix with the others. That diet though will kill that chipokae. Yet another reason the compatibility really need to be sorted out.

[Neon]

which fish are more compatible with them ? just out of curiosity....

[Rollins4Miles]

The ruby red may be intimidated by the other fish. Peacocks are pretty laid back fish (for african cichlids). He's not a good mix with the others. That diet though will kill that chipokae. Yet another reason the compatibility really need to be sorted out.

Damn my addiction!! In regards to the diet for the chipokae, I feed him cichlid pellets and that's it. He'll eat a little bit of the plants as I've noticed. I've seen testimony online stating that chipokaes are herbivores and then other sites will say they are opportunistic eaters and they will eat meat (making them omnivores).

As for everything else put in the tank; food wise, it all gets taken care of by other residents. The frogs WILL eat anything that fits! And they will scavenge the bottom for remains. The EBJD, BGK, frogs, and puffer will and have taken care of the guppies, ghost shrimp, brine shrimp and meal worms.

I'm just kind of unsure where to go from here. I watched the tank for a while this morning and the EBJD and ruby red have been swimming right in front of the chipokae and bumping into him with no consequences. I understand it's still early...I'm just keeping my fingers crossed until I can get the 125g. Maybe I'll throw the chipokae into my 10g quarantine tank until the 125g is purchased. I'd feel bad though.

My biggest concern, even without the chipokae being in the tank, is I'm going to visit family in December for a couple of weeks and a friend of mine will be caring for my tank. The only thing she knows about fish is they come in either fillet or stick form...has me extremely nervous!!! I'm tempted to ask the guy I deal with at the LFS to stop by and keep an eye on things. But then it comes down to who can I trust more with what...

This site is addicting!! As is the hobby itself!!

[Red]

Other mbuna, in a big tank as in these are really mean. I would stay away from them in most african tanks.

[Neon]

Other mbuna, in a big tank as in these are really mean. I would stay away from them in most african tanks.

thank you Red

[Lab_Rat]

which fish are more compatible with them ? just out of curiosity....

More compatible with what? The mbuna? For the mbuna, they should really be housed with other mbuna only, and possibly a syno or pleco. They're too rough to be housed with most other fish.

[hari-goshi]

The ruby red may be intimidated by the other fish. Peacocks are pretty laid back fish (for african cichlids). He's not a good mix with the others. That diet though will kill that chipokae. Yet another reason the compatibility really need to be sorted out.
The Chipokaes main diet in the wild is actually crustaceans and insect larvae , according to stomach content analysis. Its one of the more predatory mbuna , although still considered an omnivore. But I agree that stress from the Chipokae is probably the reason for the peacocks odd behavior. Alot of times peacocks will appear stressed and wont color up properly with more aggressive tankmates. Its best to find him some more suitable friends.

[hari-goshi]

which fish are more compatible with them ? just out of curiosity....
Depends entirely on the type of mbuna and individuall fish itself. You have alot more leeway with the more docile species like L.caeruleus and I.sprengerae. With the more aggressive species (M.auratus,M.chipokae,M.lombardoi) the only suitable option (barring a miracle) is other aggressive mbuna.

[Lab_Rat]

The Chipokaes main diet in the wild is actually crustaceans and insect larvae , according to stomach content analysis. Its one of the more predatory mbuna , although still considered an omnivore. But I agree that stress from the Chipokae is probably the reason for the peacocks odd behavior. Alot of times peacocks will appear stressed and wont color up properly with more aggressive tankmates. Its best to find him some more suitable friends.

I did not realize that! Thanks for that info. Still, wouldn't feeder guppies be too rich of a diet for their kidneys? I knew the yellow labs were that way, but I've never kept chipokae myself. I was always worried about malawi bloat that I just fed veggie based foods and cichlid pellets with occasional frozen spirulina brine shrimp as a treat.

[hari-goshi]

I did not realize that! Thanks for that info. Still, wouldn't feeder guppies be too rich of a diet for their kidneys? I knew the yellow labs were that way, but I've never kept chipokae myself. I was always worried about malawi bloat that I just fed veggie based foods and cichlid pellets with occasional frozen spirulina brine shrimp as a treat.
No problem Lab_Ratthumbs2: . I personally wouldnt feed them feeder gups as they arent very nutritious. But its one of the few species of mbuna that could tolerate regular feedings of such food long term. They do eat alot of small fish in the wild.