desertrefugee

Not to be the only poster in the FL cichlid forum, but if that's to be it for a while, I'm game if others are. (Too bad the only poster is a newbie. Then again, maybe there's as much to be learned from a newbie's blundering as there is the careful mentoring of an expert).

Anyway, the beaten labadochromis caeruleus is in the hospital. With his fins nipped and fungused, I dosed him with Melafix tonight. I'll keep it up and hope he ends up able to go back in with the big boys. (He's equal in size).

Meanwhile, to keep the cycle challenged, I picked up another fish tonight from a LFS I traveled to only because they had the exact lids for my 65g. Specializing in saltwater, they had a single African in a tank and that was all. I didn't recognize it and neither did the owner, but he handed me a 4 inch thick CICHLID book and I looked through it to insure I wasn't buying a terrorist. At first, I thought it was a Pseudotropheus socolofi, but now that he's home, I believe it might be a Maylandia callainos (cobalt blue zebra). Either way, a suitable tankmate for the rest of the guys. He's also the biggest resident - a full 4 inches. For now, there's a lot of mutual respect going on.

Could anyone confirm his identity from my lousy picture? (He's the overexposed flourescant blue on the bottom right).

Attached Images

Group_Photo-with Maylandia.jpg (315.5 KB, 37 views)

Shawnie

I agree he looks like a zebra...not a socolofi

bolivianbaby

Cobalt blue zebra, for sure. I made the same mistake when I bought mine, I thought he was a socolofi. I actually just figured it out a few days ago. No problems for your tank, though.

desertrefugee

Thanks for the input, folks. I'm amazed I actually got it right (on my second try) given that there are so many species of mbuna out there. I was amazed just at the array of Pseudotropheus!

By the way, this fellow (the cobalt blue zebra) has quickly risen to the top of the pecking order. Not sure if it's his size, his species or both. Almost a bully. At least the rest of the guys don't cower behind the filter like the now-hospitalized lab. Speaking of which - his entire tail has now FALLEN OFF! Looks like pulling him was the right thing. He'd probably be dead by now. Hopefully, the Melafix will get him better without mortality.

Time will tell.

Oh, and here's a much better photo. I am very grateful for the advice and collective wisdom of experienced "keepers" of African mbuna.

Best,

Darrell

Attached Images

Cobalt Zebra.jpg (936.7 KB, 13 views)