red empress coloring

[degrassi]

I jsut got my first african cichlids for my 90gal tank. They are ina 10gal q tank while i fishless cycle the 90gal.

I got 3 Lab. pearlmutt, 1 taiwan reef and 1 red empress so far. the Labs are 2" and are colored nicely, one is cream with yellow fins and the other 2 are white with black bars and yellow fins. the taiwan reef and the red empress are both around 1 1/2" showing no color(jsut sliver, with the red empress showing black lines). I was wondering when the red empress will start showing color? I read somewhere that the taiwan reef takes a long time to get full color,so i'm patiently waiting. But i was jsut curious when the red empress will color up

[SGypsyMermaid]

my red empress took a long time--over a year! but once he colored up, he never faded at all--he's always in full color.

[Overawed]

I am noticiing the same thing SGM, one of my males has turned solid silverish blue while the other male has gotten blue on his head and the rest of his body has stayed brownish black. I guess I am not feeding them the right food.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i don't know whether it's got anything to do with the food or not. my red empress colored up right after i changed to the rift lake authentic substrate. at the time, i attributed the color change to trace elements in the substrate. now i'm not so sure. i also have an unidentified malawi hap--looks like a peacock...electric blue with pale blue trim on the dorsal fin(i have to examine it more closely). it was an adult fish when i purchased it over a year ago, and i thought that it was female--it's always been drab gray with dark bars and no other color. well, i introduced what i thought was a female lethrinops, and all of a sudden my erstwhile female "peacock" turned into a vividly colored male!

[Cichlid Boy]

I just wanted to give a word of caution - you may find that when your Red Empress and Taiwan Reef get older you might have some conflict (assuming they're both males)...

[SGypsyMermaid]

I just wanted to give a word of caution - you may find that when your Red Empress and Taiwan Reef get older you might have some conflict (assuming they're both males)...

a very good point!

[stefanos.f]

About the Red Empress (Protomelas taeniolatus) you dont have to worry if someones fish take longer than someone elses to color up :) because there are many different morphs of this fish! So it depents more on wich color variety each of u have :D See it for your self here www.ciklid.se/bildarkivet_fisk.asp?FIRRE=749&SLAKT=Protomelas Left of the piture u can choose to see all the types of Protomelas taeniolatus!

[Overawed]

Nice website Stefanos.f, thanks for posting it.

[Mbuniac]

Definitely a good website stephanos.f!
I added it to my favorites, lots of good info. I have seen a lot of Red Empress (including the one that my son is giving me) and most have neon blue head and red body with blue and/or various other markings. These are some I have never seen before. Thanks for posting it!
Sam

[stefanos.f]

I m glad I could help you guys :lol: I m anytime at your service :wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

well, i've been wondering why my 'female' red empress never spawned with my male...it's cuz she's a guy! just colored up and it's been over 3 years!

[Overawed]

3 years? wow! Mine colored up in months.

[Mbuniac]

I guess this would be a good time to interject that I am the proud owner of a 9" Red Empress now! My son has been promising that I could have him for almost a year now, so this trip to Idaho I kidnapped him. Well actually I had to buy him 4 Juli's, but it was worth it. His red is a bit faded now since he's a bit stressed and unhappy being in the 29 gal. quarantine tank, but his blue is gorgeous. Or as they say in Brooklyn Gauwjus! Can't wait to get him in the big tank.
P.S.
OA- introduced my P. phenochilus to the big tank last thurs. and he seems to be doing fine. He already has more blotches than when I bought him!
Sam

[Overawed]

Great news Sam! I think that the Phenos and Red Emps make the best tank buddies, they will scrap but I have never seen them go mouth to mouth fighting. Wish you lived closer, I have a bunch of P. Phenochilus females looking for a good man. :)

[Mbuniac]

Now why would I want to go and mess up the peace of my tank with a bunch of females??? They cause so many problems!

Not to mention any names, but look at all the trouble (:sygypsy: ) causes!!!:wink:
Actually, I have been considering getting a few ladies for both the P. phenochilus and the P. taeniolatus after they get settled in. Also a few female L. caeruleus so hopefully my male will quit creating hybrids with my female M. estherae!
Sam

[SGypsyMermaid]

i simply cannot imagine why you would say such a thing about moi--i am innocent of any wrongdoing, sam-i-am!

[Mbuniac]

At least recently anyway!:D
An old saying just occurred to me, but I can't write it here!
I-am-Sam