orange fish

[ferdelance]

bought this fish at lfs-was told it is a
labidocrhomus but I think it is a labeotrpheous here is the picture:
http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2003-05-14/11958-001.jpg
it has been a very bad boy-has killed two fish in the last two weeks. this fish has been agitated and difficult to photograph.
seems to be building a nest. I have another similar fish which is light blue. Can anyone tell me if it is a labidochromus or labeotropheous:confused:

[tom]

Hi ferdelance

Your photo doesn't show. Appears that the IMG SRC tag link on your page isn't pointing to a correct server directory. Feel free to PM me if you need any help.

[WorldNation]

didn't load for me either.

[SGypsyMermaid]

me, neither

[jonah]

Strange, usually I'm the one that can't see pictures. I see it fine, still don't know what it is though. Doesn't Labeotropheus have a downturned mouth? This one's mouth looks like it's in the front.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i can see it now--it looks like a red zebra(pseudotropheus/maylandia/metriclima estherae). it is definitely not a labeotropheus(mouth is wrong), and most likely not a labidochromis either...they usually have kind of pointed mouths.

[tom]

If that's not a M. estherae as Sgypsy suggests, then I don't know what it is.

A light blue (male) specimen is uncommon in any LFS, where the domestic variety is more commonly tinged a blue/white (might appear as a film), especially on the dorsal and caudal fins and behind a still decidedly orange/peach body.
Sounds like quite a find!

(The one in the photo might also very well be a male, btw)

[ferdelance]

here is a picture of the blue one
it physicallly is just like the orange but larger -too bad pic is out of focus
http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2003-05-15/11982-001.jpg

[tom]

Hard (for me) to tell if the blue fish is a male M. estherae or another species altogether (M. callainos, for example) from that shot.

Anyone else want to chime in here?

[Overawed]

that blue guy looks like a cobalt (M. Callainos)

[SGypsyMermaid]

blue cobalts(ps caillanos) are very hard to distinguish from blue male estheraes, but i think that it is a blue male estherae based on subtle differences in body shape and coloration from my cobalt blue. i have a new blue estherae male that has an ob mate whose coloration is closer to the fish in question.

[ferdelance]

the caudal fin of each fish has three white or light spots- if that is of any help. they are shy and difficult to photograph. you cannot see the spots in either picture

[tom]

When I first looked at the photo, I was trying to see if any of those light spots are present on the rear tip of the dorsal fin. They don't appear to be from the photo, but are they?

[V2rocketeer]

I was on this page originally because I have a bright yellow large (3.5") cichlid that I wanted to Identify so that I could either sell him or give him to a good home. The original poster hit his temperment right on. Very Naughty !! he has eaten everything that we have put in the tank over the last year. haha.
I believe he is the same fish as the original poster. Can anyone confirm this and if so what exactly is he? Thanks in advance.

Chris

[tom]

Hi Chris

Looks like Maylandia estherae (aka "red zebra").

[ferdelance]

your fish is an exact twin of mine

[Cichlid_Fan]

Why is it called a Red Zebra when it is orange and the male is blue?...These fish are going to drive me to :drink:

I still love em though....

Matt

[V2rocketeer]

She loves to redecorate the tank as well. She is a she right? Males are blue? Anyway it will spend hours picking up rocks and moving them to the edge of the tank.

Chris

[Cichlid_Fan]

They tend to do that....:twisted:

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by V2rocketeer
She loves to redecorate the tank as well. She is a she right? Males are blue? Anyway it will spend hours picking up rocks and moving them to the edge of the tank.

Chris

http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cichlidrecipe/crp19.htm

Look towards the bottom of the page, you'll see the Zebras there.

Matt

[ferdelance]

watch out she doesn't hire an expensive interior decorator:razz:

[tom]

Originally posted by Cichlid_Fan
Why is it called a Red Zebra when it is orange and the male is blue?

In the Lake, most adult males are blue (orange males have been reported in the wild); but in the aquarium hobby, males are more often orange due to selective breeding. Even so, such domesticated male estherae often take on a blueish tinge at maturity, often appearing as a sort of "body film" over muted orange, with the fins turning whiteish with a hint of blue.

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by tom
In the Lake, most adult males are blue (orange males have been reported in the wild); but in the aquarium hobby, males are more often orange due to selective breeding. Even so, such domesticated male estherae often take on a blueish tinge at maturity, often appearing as a sort of "body film" over muted orange, with the fins turning whiteish with a hint of blue.

Thanks Tom, but how did they get the name RED ZEBRA?

[tom]

Wouldja believe...from some partially colorblind exporter?:xmas3:

I dunno.

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by tom
Wouldja believe...from some partially colorblind exporter?:xmas3:

I'll take it, where do I sign?