Maybe a stupid but I need help

Hello folks ,

When I go to the pet shop sometimes I see tanks with the label "mix Malawis" but what type of fish are inside there?

Can be like electric lab, red zebras etc?

 

The thing with mixed malawis is they are mixed and can be any number of species or hybrids thereof, a real mixed bag.

 

But for example can I find a electric yellow lab there or a red zebra cichlid?

 

Usually hybrid's as you will see eye color may be reddish..

 

I'm by far no expert on Malawis, but I do know that the term is because they get grouped together because they all come from Lake Malawi - the reason is that they're native to that environment and aren't found naturally anywhere else. There are a huge number of cichlids that fall into that category so I'd say if there is one specifically that you are looking for, then be sure to know the genera pretty well since the Cichlidae family is pretty huge (consisting of genera from all over the world, mostly the Americas and Africa) and has so much variety in it that such a broad term is really just a mixed bag...
The differences in genera are often almost just color or not even visible but they get classified differently typically because of specific dietary differences and is often only really apparent when looking at their gill rakes which differ internally depending on the food material they've evolved to pick out.

A specific example such as you asked about regarding a zebra cichlid: The red zebras are classed as Metriaclima estherae which are rock dwelling type cichlids and yes, they are found in lake Malawi so, indeed, you would stand a chance to find one of these in a mixed tank like you mentioned...

Have a look maybe at this article; it gives a bit of insight into the whole lake Malawi group: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/haps_vs_mbuna.php

I hope that helps a bit!

 

i was under the impresiion that malawi cichlids came from lake malawi and tanganlika cichlids were from lake tanganlika.
i am not an expert on cichlids and the only one i am fond of is the frontosa.these 2 lakes are the only place you will find these cichlids.
most pet shops have them in different sections to diffrentiate between the 2 lakes

my 2 cents

 

For me, its like how you would classify a dog as a "pavement special" the general shape of a dog but the bloodlines are sorta mixed up. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt.
You should be able to tell if its a hap or mbuna but thats about it

 

I kinda agree with @HEIHACHI here.I import fish quite often.The most common malawis found in mixed import.will be supplier will have tank set up for mabuanas or haps mixed not together,but there is the exeption.You will find what you looking for in mixed imports considering they not hybrids.But its a gamble.Tangaka cichlids are another batch all together but both like higher ph.I have nt tried keeping them together so cant comment here.you will also find the lake victoria cichlid in your mix from time to ime.but yes we do label them as mixed and leave the identifieng to the customer so we as importers dnt have the headache of identifieng them when purchased as mixed malawis ourselves.