CatladyDane

When I acquired this refugee I was told (s)he was an African Cichlid, but no specific species was known. I must have looked at dozens of pictures, and still can't seem to find just the right one. Cichlids seem to come in every color. The reference guide that Allie referred to in October 2007 (Tropical Fish and Aquarium Forum > Freshwater Aquarium Fish > Freshwater Fish and Invertebrates > Cichlids > Reference guide for stocking cichlids in 10g to 75g) did provide lots of interesting information, but I'm still puzzled regarding this one's species. (S)he is about 3 inches long, and I don't know how old. Can anyone pinpoint a probable species, or is this one likely to be a hybrid? Thank you.

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steveangela1

cobalt red zebra? this is just a guess

capekate

By looking at the structure of its fins I would say that it is a member of the MBUNA cichlid family... maybe you can start with a search of the Mbuna and see if you can find any photos of yours there?

capekate

Check this site out... it looks like yours is a Malawi Mbuna, Cobalt blue Zebra.
see what you think...




http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

FL CommunityFans

Those are two very different fish, from where I sit. Hers has very long fins on the bottom, where the cobalt zebra does not. Also, look at the bone structure of the head. It's rounded differently, and location of the top fin seems up closer on hers than on the blue zebra. I could be wrong, but those were 2 inconsistencies that I was able to notice.

Allie

That's a cobalt zebra 100%. Most likely a young female.

FL CommunityFans

Astounds me at how these fish go through such a transformation as they mature. They look nothing like they do as juvies half the time.

steveangela1

thats exactly what I thought.. out of my fry I have one cobalt blue...not to mention the juve facial features are the same as my red zebra about a month ago... its already changed.

Allie

The face broaden out in the zebra species has they mature. Ours are all roughly 3 inches big the male a tad bigger. Our females look exactly like the picture.

cichlidlover

i have one, it is a member of the Mbuna family i think it is a p. aurora (latin name)