AmongthePuffers

I took some new pics of Cachy now that it's in a bigger tank. Still dealing with parasites though. Anyway, Id like to find out its gender, and what kind of african cichlid it is. Does anyone know? Thanks!


Old Pics: 036.JPG 035.JPG

Pics taken today:
wild life refuge, spike, and cachy 009.JPG wild life refuge, spike, and cachy 018.JPG wild life refuge, spike, and cachy 008.JPG

bolivianbaby

He's beautiful, but I'm not familiar enough with Africans to give you his species.

Hopefully, Angela will see this thread! She's good at ID'ing these guys

GypsyGirl

Wow I to think its beautiful. I don't know what kind of Cichlid. It looks like a female to me. If you can get a good picture of his underside maybe I can tell.

Angela_96

It actually looks like a hybrid between a lab transverse and a tropheops.

cerianthus

What's up with big belly? You think it maybe worm infestation? Is it eating well?
Old pics actually reminded of some SA CIchlid. Looking at the anal fin, it maybe She.
Cross b/n Labido and Pseudo? Naturally occuring?

How long has it been with big belly or is it really well fed?

AmongthePuffers

ya, right now his tank is plagued by planaria, so I assume they're the cause of the bloated stomach. Hes eating well though.
The bloat started when my brother was keeping him in a 5 gal tank that never got a water change. So thats how I think the planaria came about.

Butterfly

Planaria shouldn't cause him to bloat unless he's eating an awful lot of them but no way should there be that many in the tank.
Have you tried fasting him after a water change? It might help his bloat and the tank conditions also.
Carol

AmongthePuffers

thats actually something thats been worrying me. In the past Ive seen him actually, how do I say....give birth to them in a sense. I mean when he was in his old tank hed get really stressed and dart around, and then these worms would come out of him.
and when I put him in the new tank, he somehow transferred the worms over, I was sure not to bring any of the old water to the new tank. Really the only food hes getting are about 8 or 9 of these little african cichlid pellets. Am I overfeeding? Here's a link to the food I use. Do you guys have any suggestions on food? Sometimes I put ghost shrimp into the tank as well, but not often at all.

Angela_96

what kind of pellets? a lot of the cichlid staple stuff still has a ton of protein in it that is not good for malawi cichlids. I would switch it diet and start spirulla flakes and some fresh veggies....

btate617

You can get sprinula flakes and sticks/pellets.

Brian

Butterfly

If he is "passing" worms I would be concerned as to what they are because they are not planaria.
Carol

Angela_96

You know I didn't realize he was passing the worms, I would get worm medicine for him then.
Plus do a good cleaning several times a week of the gravel, etc while treating him.

cerianthus

How about not feeding for few days to see if belly subsides.

AmongthePuffers

Well, I do have medicine for him.

First off I have this, which I know isnt the best medication.

and I also have this which would be for individual bathing.

I using them very sparingly though, im trying not to be rash and make a bad mistake.



As a new diet, what do you guys think about this?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=13908

cerianthus

Dont bother with neither.

Dont expose or use med where med may not work when really needed since organism can evolved to develop resistance.

Look into simple spirulina flakes. that Aquarian (I find them poor quality) maybe made for either carnivore or omnivore where mbuna are more vegetarian.

I do know bloat can be associated to poor water quality. I dont know if it is related to eating too much planaria.
If you really think it is planaria, you can scoop out all the gravel and replace with new or leave it bare bottom for now. Do not touch/replace filter when doing this.
Keep the water in check. What is your pH? I am not asking for others with an assumption that is well monitored.

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i hope it is not something serious as I think this is very interesting and beautiful fish as I can not recall what it may be. I prefer the old coloration than newer coloration, personally.