Need help with identity

zarate · Member Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 245 Location: Wisconsin

I just got 2 african cichlids, but I don't know what kind. I tried to get clear shots, but it's kind of hard to do.
http://usera.imagecave.com/aam313/Fish012-copy.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/aam313/Fish016-copy.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/aam313/Fish038-copy.jpg

That was all the first fish.....

http://usera.imagecave.com/aam313/Fish023-copy.jpg

And that is the only clearish shot I could get of the second one.
If anyone could tell me what they think they might be I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm pretty sure they are hybrids.
Thanks!

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

Most likely hybrids. Maybe some kind of blue zebra in them.

BTW, does that 2nd one have some fin rot going on? Looks like there's some white along the edges of his fins and his tail looks like it's erroded a little. Could just be the picture, but I thought I'd ask.

-Chelle

zarate · Member Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 245 Location: Wisconsin

Yes, he does have fin rot unfortunately. They were the last 2 in the tank at wal-mart and I felt bad for them, and I had an open 29 gallon. The one fish doesn't have any fin rot at all, but the second one does. I'm pretty sure they are 2 different kinds of fish. One has more blue in the stripes, and the other has more of a black color to his stripes. What would you recommend I feed them, other than the cichlid pellets?

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

Since they're mbuna, they are mainly herbivores so I'd try to find some cichlid pellets that have mostly vegitable matter and low protein. I actually feed my africans goldfish food. Spirilina pellets would also be good. For treats you can try to give them things like lettuce & spiniach.

Also, you may run into problems keeping them in a 29 gallon tank. Because of their aggresive nature, they really do best in larger groups (at least 9 or 10) which would need a much bigger tank (at least 40 gallons).

-Chelle