Ping Fish Fantasy

[SauRoN]

As requested, some pics after the move.

The rock looks pretty unnatural as I didn't push it into the gravel, I figured they dig the thing in every time so I'll just leave it to them.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-7CHTndZI/AAAAAAAABfk/xdxgDEl5Peg/s800/DSCF1538.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-7KQjg1MI/AAAAAAAABfo/UOizuGmcRyU/s800/DSCF1539.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-7Sr48uUI/AAAAAAAABfs/yN8MxNW-a50/s800/DSCF1540.JPG

If anyone wants to play "identify the fish" by all means, I haven't been able to figure half of them out as they change colour by the week. Those that were yellow are now blue, and those that were blue are now yellow etc etc.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-597X9i8I/AAAAAAAABe8/GyIzNsovJQk/s800/DSCF1495.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6FA6zMvI/AAAAAAAABfA/hHsaqFhgos0/s800/DSCF1524.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6TxneXKI/AAAAAAAABfI/mllKpOgWtow/s800/DSCF1526.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6bHxz5AI/AAAAAAAABfM/obGbEbtFnWY/s800/DSCF1528.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6jRr4TsI/AAAAAAAABfQ/uqCAErOV798/s800/DSCF1529.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6qtNZJmI/AAAAAAAABfY/qgfUQsw95fw/s800/DSCF1533.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-6x9KPsFI/AAAAAAAABfc/xUzzbjUPrOE/s800/DSCF1534.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SM9kTqt8QQs/Sj-65CRGrzI/AAAAAAAABfg/t-H5UKUpVoE/s800/DSCF1535.JPG

[Zafgak]

Very Nice

[SauRoN]

Like an idiot I of course didn't think about switching off the bubbles, that would have helped the bloody thing focus I'm sure.

[Risen]

If anyone can it would be Rowland. I am sure he will see this thread and help you out.

Auroroa, Livingstoni
venustus. tropheops are my guess (NOT IN ORDER )

[Fish Fantasy]

Very nice Sauron, the water seems to have cleared quite nicely and your fish are absolutly stunning!

[sarf]

1&6 are ps red top ndumbi..a stunning mbuni from the tanzanian side of lake malawi.no3 looks like nimbochromis venestus..although the pattern of barring is somewhat suspect.no4 is nimbochromis livingstoni.be careful with the venestus n livingstoni when they get larger..your smaller size fish could start disappearing if they are not kept well fed

[SauRoN]

I was also convinced that is a Red Top, but then someone here or on another forum told me the colours weren't right.

I also have another Mbuna that I couldn't get a nice picture of, but it was initially very dark yellow/orange and has now magically started going blue.

Anyway know what that is? Fins seems to be going orange.

Oh another question, I've been told to overstock my Malawi tank to make fish less territorial.

Is this a good idea, and if so how many more could I add safely?

[SauRoN]

Jeeza, I see that both Nimbochromis becomes quite large and need a massive tank further down the line.

Seems to be slow of growth at least, so I'm safe for now but might need to give them away later down the line.

[Rowland]

I agree with sarf on the three identified.
No 5 looks like a female metriaclima aurora.
No 9 looks like a sub adult male Melanochromis johanni. Is this the one that was yellow and is going blue? If so, it would make sense.
No 10 looks like a sub adult lombardoi male, was it previously blue?

Sauron, to answer the question about stocking, I need to know how big the tank is. What I would do though is to choose between the two types of malawis you have there. Either keep the venustus and livingstonii and get other "Haps" or keep the Mbuna (rock dwellers) and get rid of the two Haps. If you choose to keep mbuna, I would add lots more rocks, piled up safely, creating territories for them. Malawi mbuna do better in a crowded setup where males are unable to accurately define their territory. If this is the route you take, frequent, large water changes will be necessary.
When adding any fish to your setup, remove all decor, do a large water change and then put the stuff back, differently. This allows all an equal chance at establishing a territory. If not, new additions can be bullied to death.
I would also recommend removing the wood. It releases tannins which over time will soften the water and perhaps lower the pH. Malawis need hard alkaline water.

[SauRoN]

No 9 looks like a sub adult male Melanochromis johanni. Is this the one that was yellow and is going blue? If so, it would make sense.
No 10 looks like a sub adult lombardoi male, was it previously blue?

No 10 I can't remember if it was darker, but the fish that was yellowish and is now going Blue is in the very first picture of the big tank.



Sauron, to answer the question about stocking, I need to know how big the tank is.

70 x 70 (or 65 x 65) about 220 - 250 or so litres.



What I would do though is to choose between the two types of malawis you have there. Either keep the venustus and livingstonii and get other "Haps" or keep the Mbuna (rock dwellers) and get rid of the two Haps.

Well considering they will be growing massive, the Haps would have to go at some point regardless. I wasn't even aware they weren't Mbuna as they looked much the same when smaller.



If you choose to keep mbuna, I would add lots more rocks, piled up safely, creating territories for them. Malawi mbuna do better in a crowded setup where males are unable to accurately define their territory. If this is the route you take, frequent, large water changes will be necessary.

That's the plan, as soons as I find a source of rocks which I'm happy with. I know it doesn't really look right for a tank full of Malawis.



I would also recommend removing the wood. It releases tannins which over time will soften the water and perhaps lower the pH. Malawis need hard alkaline water.

Oddly enough I have been keeping a very close eye on the pH and it has remained exactly the same even after adding the wood, and visibly noting tannin colour changes.

That being said the wood will probably migrate to the 1,2m Oscar tank when that is finally setup, I mostly bought the large pieces to eventually go in there and then put them in so long just for aesthetics.



In general my tank is a mishmash of incorrect fish, I mean there's a Rainbow Shark in there after all.