An introduction and an ID query...

[Ace]

Hi guys and gals!

What a relief to find this forum! I've had a browse and there's nothing left for me to worry about regarding the upkeep of my Cichlids! :dance:

My name is Ace, i'm 29 and from the UK and i've been keeping tropicals for over 15 years now but have recently moved into the wide, mysterious world of Cichlids. I keep 3 Parrot Cichlids (3-4"), 5 large Silver Dollars (5"+), 1 Spotted Catfish (8"), 1 Bumblebee Catfish (6") and two Cichlids that i have yet to identify. :confused:

I've trawled the web trying to ID them but to no avail and am pulling my hair out!!! Any help would be recieved with open arms!

They are a happy pair that breed regularly (Once every couple of months), they are egglayers and the young are very hard to keep alive for any length of time. They have bred 5 times now with up to 200 fry but the net result is just 2 out of the have survived. Any help regarding this subject would be gratefully recieved too!!!!

Thanks in advance,

Ace

[Ace]

Photo didn't attach for some reason :(

Trying again....

[tom]

Hi Ace, and welcome.

Those look like Hemichromis bimaculatus (aka "jewel cichlid") to me.

[cichgirl]

Welcome!! I'm Stef, also a fishaholic..... As for help, we all need that.. :lol:

I agree with tom :D Looks like a jewel to me.

[jonah]

If they're not bimaculatus then they're one of their close relatives. Hemichromis bimaculatus is the most often seen jewel. Really pretty fish when in their breeding colors.

[Ace]

Tom, Cichgirl & Jonah:

Thank you so much guys (& gals!), tapping Hemichromis bimaculatus into a search engine gave enough info to keep me busy for months! Thanks again and i look forward to posting some more in the near future...

And Jonah, i have to agree, they really are a beautiful Cichlid in breeding colours!