Weird I just found a reference, overlooked by myself many times, to an another Sunshine Peacock ... grr. I wish I would have found this sooner. Things would have been a lot easier. Check out http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1409 and hit the drop down box and select maturing male.
Mystery solved ... I think
This cichlid is not a Sunshine Peacock
I learn more each time I try to confirm what I have in my tanks. The local fish store sold me a fish and called it a Aulonocara baenschi, common name as they called it a Benga Regal and I guess also called a Sunshine Peacock. Now maybe there are Sunshine Peacocks that look similar or even very similar to what i have but i do not think this is what I have at the moment. Here is a picture of what i have:
This fish for one is not yellow, or at least not a bright vibrant yellow like many of the sunshine peacocks I find online are, http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/baenschi. The previously linked page has many pictures of baenschi that vary a little but all of them have something in common. Their heads are not completely blue, my fish differs in that respect:
So I think this fish is more likely to be a Blue Neon, a Aulonocara stuartgranti (Chiwindi) the following links provide some online examples of the fish.
http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_page=popup_
Same picture at another site, under the same name...
http://www.livefishdirect.com/store.php?fid=493
There is one problem with my theory the Blue Neon has blue fins, our fish does not. Maybe this is a color variant found in fish stores from selective breeding, who knows ... but I think I am not going to call our fish a Sunshine Peacock.
Here are a couple other pictures of our fish ..
http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_page=popup_
Same picture at another site, under the same name...
http://www.livefishdirect.com/store.php?fid=493
There is one problem with my theory the Blue Neon has blue fins, our fish does not. Maybe this is a color variant found in fish stores from selective breeding, who knows ... but I think I am not going to call our fish a Sunshine Peacock.
Here are a couple other pictures of our fish ..
I don't know what it is... looks like an orange Sunshine with an all blue head :(
Maingano Mommy, Day 18
Our Melanchromis cyaneorhabdos spit her fry some time last night. She was promptly removed from the fry tank this morning when we noticed how hungry she really was. I noticed something was wrong when she slammed into the side of the aquarium while trying to eat one of the fry. Yep she was trying to eat them. I have to assume that she got a few, but not many, these little Cichlids can move. I estimate about 20 - 25 fry survived last night's hunt.
The fry now battle for territory and have even started eating the veggie flake I feed our adult Cichlids. There is a noticeable difference in color between them. Many are spotted, some are quite bland. A couple have a shimmer of blue on their dorsal fins. They are already quite curious add like to inspect any fingers that get too close to the aquarium's glass. I don't know how quickly they will grow but for now they are about 6 - 7mm standard. It will be interesting to see when they get their color...
Video of the little buggers...
The fry now battle for territory and have even started eating the veggie flake I feed our adult Cichlids. There is a noticeable difference in color between them. Many are spotted, some are quite bland. A couple have a shimmer of blue on their dorsal fins. They are already quite curious add like to inspect any fingers that get too close to the aquarium's glass. I don't know how quickly they will grow but for now they are about 6 - 7mm standard. It will be interesting to see when they get their color...
Video of the little buggers...
Cichlid List Update
Here is an updated Cichlid listing, just a few additions including some common names. Counts that went down are blue, counts that went up are red.
The 75:
Metriaclima lombardoi (1m)(1f) [Kenyi]
Metriaclima estherae (Orange) (1) [Orange Zebra]
Metriaclima estherae (OB Blue) (1) [Orange Blotch Zebra] [Blueberry]
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (10) [Electric BLue Johanni] [Maingano]
Melanochromis hybrid? Pseudotropheus ornatus? (1)
Pseudotropheus crabro (1f)(1m) [Bumblebee]
Pseudotropheus socolofi (1m) or possibly Metriaclima estherae (Blue) (1m) [Blue Zebra]
Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Ruarwe" (1m) [Jewel Spot]
Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Chewere" (3)
Labidochromis caeruleus (1)
The 20:
Astatotilapia nubila (1m) (2f) []
Aulonocara baenschi (1m) (TEMPORARY!!) [Benga Regal Peacock]
The 10, Grow out:
empty, but not for long
The 75:
Metriaclima lombardoi (1m)(1f) [Kenyi]
Metriaclima estherae (Orange) (1) [Orange Zebra]
Metriaclima estherae (OB Blue) (1) [Orange Blotch Zebra] [Blueberry]
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (10) [Electric BLue Johanni] [Maingano]
Melanochromis hybrid? Pseudotropheus ornatus? (1)
Pseudotropheus crabro (1f)(1m) [Bumblebee]
Pseudotropheus socolofi (1m) or possibly Metriaclima estherae (Blue) (1m) [Blue Zebra]
Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Ruarwe" (1m) [Jewel Spot]
Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Chewere" (3)
Labidochromis caeruleus (1)
The 20:
Astatotilapia nubila (1m) (2f) []
Aulonocara baenschi (1m) (TEMPORARY!!) [Benga Regal Peacock]
The 10, Grow out:
empty, but not for long
Maingano Mommy, Day 13
Nothing to say really, just a picture to post. A Melanchromis cyaneorhabdos cichlid holding at day 13. Less egg and more fish in her mouth at this point. Expecting new fish within the next few days, although some sites state it could take as long as 21 days total holding. New tank is ready, just waiting.
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Maingano, still a mommy?
Well I am pleased to announce that our Melanchromis cyaneorhabdos, I call her Big Mama, has decided to forgo eating and carry her eggs like a good Cichlid. We are at day 11 and she still looks ok ... I expected that she would look skinny by now, but no. I can hardly notice a difference, she has plenty of energy and has no trouble clearing her niche of rock of unwanted guests. Here are a couple pictures, look close at the first one, after clicking for the larger version ...
... I think the eggs have eyes.
... I think the eggs have eyes.
... and Big Daddy
A couple non-related pictures just for fun.
Male and Female Astatotilapia nubilus
... and one of our Pseudotropheus chewere.
Well that is it for today...
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Maingano is a Mommy, almost
Well ... time to setup another tank. One of the Mainganos is holding... I know it is not a great pick but she hides a lot now, and i am no photographer... The peach items in her mouth are eggs, in about 14 days I expect quite a few new fish. Unless of course she eats them :(
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