Strange Yellow Lab Mbuna

Hello!!
A little while back I bought these tiny baby cichlids for a steal at $10.00 every 3.
So I pick out 2 of which I thought were yellow labs,
These yellow labs thrived and flourished at a small size and caught up to the other bigger Mbuna tank mates fairly quick!!
Now they are fully matured, and I can’t tell if they’re yellow labs anymore.
I remember yellow labs being slightly more timid and peaceful. Also bearing the sharp black colors on their fins.
These yellow labs have absolutely no black on their fins, if anything they have a small blue tint.

The larger of the two is a TANK. I mean absolutely a fierce fish who constantly keeps his own territory and spazzes out when he sees another fish near it. He is currently on the third level of the hierarchy after my male SocolofI and Pulpican. This fish bites me when I clean the tank and its a pain, he is an absolute beast. What is this fish a hybrid? It’s own separate species? An all yellow lab? Why is this fish such a hardo!?!?
THANKS!!!

 

I've seen those sold under the name "Electric Yellows". I thought that name was synonymous with Yellow Labs, but I noticed that very few of them had black fin edging. My guess is some type of Yellow Lab variant.

 

Could be female Chindongo SaulosI (Saulosi)
Dominant males turn a blue with black vertical stripes. Females can have some blue on their fins.

 

I've seen those sold under the name "Electric Yellows". I thought that name was synonymous with Yellow Labs, but I noticed that very few of them had black fin edging. My guess is some type of Yellow Lab variant.

Thanks a lot for your observation! Here are some more photos of the unknown lab!

Could be female Chindongo SaulosI (Saulosi)
Dominant males turn a blue with black vertical stripes. Females can have some blue on their fins.

I used to have saulosI cichlids, they did look quite similar but this one is totally different his mouth is more pointed like a lab, he’s such a strange fish, this fish is also most definitely a male, he does the mating dances with the other yellow fish and is very territorial

 

Hello there,
Definitely not a specimen of Labidochromis caeruleus (Yellow lab cichlid). Used to keep a lot of them back in the day, and yes, they usually have a jet black line on their dorsal and pelvic fins.

Nowadays, lots of breeders tend to create hybrids of different African cichlids so sometimes there's no telling which fish came from what.

In this case, it could indeed possibly be a female Chindogo but usually, females aren't that big or bulky.

It could also possibly be Maylandia estherae but those usually come in more orange-tinted and sometimes orange-yellowish colors.

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Thanks a lot for your observation! Here are some more photos of the unknown lab!

Noor are these the same fish as the one in the first picture? Or do they all look different?
Because most of the fish in these pictures really look like yellow labs.

Edit: You see how some of the fish in the photos have a yellow spot on their analfin? That's called an egg spot, and female Chindongo saulosI usually don't have that only the blue and black males do.
I suspect that the fish that has a yellow spot or egg spot is indeed a male yellow lab, because it's not possible or very rare for a female cichlid to have an egg spot. And in this case male Chindongo saulosI are blue so we can rule them out for that fish.

 

Hello there,
Definitely not a specimen of Labidochromis caeruleus (Yellow lab cichlid). Used to keep a lot of them back in the day, and yes, they usually have a jet black line on their dorsal and pelvic fins.

Nowadays, lots of breeders tend to create hybrids of different African cichlids so sometimes there's no telling which fish came from what.

In this case, it could indeed possibly be a female Chindogo but usually, females aren't that big or bulky.

It could also possibly be Maylandia estherae but those usually come in more orange-tinted and sometimes orange-yellowish colors.

Yes! That’s so true! I was always thinking he was a hybrid between a red zebra and a yellow lab, I believe that because he has the blueish tint in his fins similar to the Maylandia Estherae, and he shows the bulky type body. I’m just very curious about this fish because he is one of the few yellow fish I have and I love all colors! I want to see if I can possibly breed him and share his offspring to my family and friends! We love him and I named him banana. I uploaded some pictures from google, suggesting some ideas that can help us make a clear understanding of this topic thanks!

 

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Yes! That’s so true! I was always thinking he was a hybrid between a red zebra and a yellow lab, I believe that because he has the blueish tint in his fins similar to the Maylandia Estherae, and he shows the bulky type body. I’m just very curious about this fish because he is one of the few yellow fish I have and I love all colors! I want to see if I can possibly breed him and share his offspring to my family and friends! We love him and I named him banana. I uploaded some pictures from google, suggesting some ideas that can help us make a clear understanding of this topic thanks!

1st fish is a Labidochromis caeruleus
2nd appears to be a hybrid between a Yellow lab and another cichlid I can't tell is
3rd is a Maylandia estherae

 

That

Noor are these the same fish as the one in the first picture? Or do they all look different?
Because most of the fish in these pictures really look like yellow labs.

Edit: You see how some of the fish in the photos have a yellow spot on their analfin? That's called an egg spot, and female Chindongo saulosI usually don't have that only the blue and black males do.
I suspect that the fish that has a yellow spot or egg spot is indeed a male yellow lab, because it's not possible or very rare for a female cichlid to have an egg spot. And in this case male Chindongo saulosI are blue so we can rule them out for that fish.

They are all the same fish except for the picture of the first one on one of my replies to an answer, the one with a small hint of black on its fins is 90% to be a female yellow lab, for it has only one tiny eggs spot, I believe now that it is a yellow lab with a twist in its genetics, now that I realize that’s not all fish are alike haha I hope he can breed and make me some grandkids! Such a fish strikes terror in the hearts of his tank mates lol

 

Judging from your photos these are the 3 fish I can see.
One bulky and big one with no egg spot
One smaller and less bulkier one with no egg spot
One smaller and less bulkier one with an egg spot

I suspect that both the smaller ones are yellow labs just that one is a female and the other is a male, or both are male and one of them hasn't developed his egg spot yet. (Most likely both males because the one that doesn't have his egg spot already has a jet black streak on his dorsal fin.

For the bigger one with neither an egg spot or black streaks my best guess would either be some hybrid but most likely a female Maylandia estherae. Male Maylandia estherae are as well blue in color while the females are usually orange-red-yellowish colors

That

They are all the same fish except for the picture of the first one on one of my replies to an answer, the one with a small hint of black on its fins is 90% to be a female yellow lab, for it has only one tiny eggs spot, I believe now that it is a yellow lab with a twist in its genetics, now that I realize that’s not all fish are alike haha I hope he can breed and make me some grandkids! Such a fish strikes terror in the hearts of his tank mates lol

Just posted an updated response haha!

 

1st fish is a Labidochromis caeruleus
2nd appears to be a hybrid between a Yellow lab and another cichlid I can't tell is
3rd is a Maylandia estherae

The first picture of the Labidochromis caeruleus is very very similar to my unknown fish, which makes me believe that it’s a yellow lab who has been changed in genetics possibly through hybridization with an albino, inbreeding, or just gods will of fashion. I really appreciate your help and knowledge thank you so much!

Judging from your photos these are the 3 fish I can see.
One bulky and big one with no egg spot
One smaller and less bulkier one with no egg spot
One smaller and less bulkier one with an egg spot

I suspect that both the smaller ones are yellow labs just that one is a female and the other is a male, or both are male and one of them hasn't developed his egg spot yet. (Most likely both males because the one that doesn't have his egg spot already has a jet black streak on his dorsal fin.

For the bigger one with neither an egg spot or black streaks my best guess would either be some hybrid but most likely a female Maylandia estherae. Male Maylandia estherae are as well blue in color while the females are usually orange-red-yellowish colors

It’s just two yellow fish, I’m sorry the pictures were hard to take lol I had to burst the photo and select the good few, so yes the one with the jet black streak on its lower fin is the smaller one which has no egg spot and seems to be the true yellow lab, and then the second other one that is larger and bulkier all yellow with the lightly blue tinted fins is the hybrid/ zebra with only 1-2 egg spots. I hope they can breed one day

 

The first picture of the Labidochromis caeruleus is very very similar to my unknown fish, which makes me believe that it’s a yellow lab who has been changed in genetics possibly through hybridization with an albino, inbreeding, or just gods will of fashion. I really appreciate your help and knowledge thank you so much!

What I can 90% agree on is that you have 2 yellow labs, not sure about the mysterious bulky fish. My money's on a female Maylandia estherae though.
(I'm not expert in this field so anyone who does feel free to correct me and pitch in!)

 

What I can 90% agree on is that you have 2 yellow labs, not sure about the mysterious bulky fish. My money's on a female Maylandia estherae though.
(I'm not expert in this field so anyone who does feel free to correct me and pitch in!)

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate that!!

 

It’s just two yellow fish, I’m sorry the pictures were hard to take lol I had to burst the photo and select the good few, so yes the one with the jet black streak on its lower fin is the smaller one which has no egg spot and seems to be the true yellow lab, and then the second other one that is larger and bulkier all yellow with the lightly blue tinted fins is the hybrid/ zebra with only 1-2 egg spots. I hope they can breed one day

Ah, there are only 2 fish? Misread the context, sorry! But yes, I'm pretty sure one is a male Yellow Lab and the other is probably a female Maylandia. Not sure about the possibility of breeding though but if the other is indeed a female Maylandia, different species of Mbuna will and can crossbreed.

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate that!!

Anytime! Good Luck with your new Mbuna!!! You'll find the yellow lab constantly begging for food and active just like the 4 of mine I used to have haha!

 

Labs are one of the more aggressive Cichlids.

 

Some of them can be pretty tough. I think its the luck of the draw. Most Yellow Labs are relatively mild mannered as compared to most Mbuna, but there's always that mean one out there. Look close at the right side of the pic. Pictured is a "really" tough Yellow Lab I once kept. He was totally out of place, but holding his own against much larger Red & Green Terrors. Sadly, I traded him.

 

Labs are one of the more aggressive Cichlids.

True, but that gives them the ability to hold their own with much larger cichlids. Nevertheless, if you have 4 males, there's always going to be one runt of the group.

Some of them can be pretty tough. I think its the luck of the draw. Most Yellow Labs are relatively mild mannered as compared to most Mbuna, but there's always that mean one out there. Look close at the right side of the pic. Pictured is a "really" tough Yellow Lab I once kept. He was totally out of place, but holding his own against much larger Red & Green Terrors. Sadly, I traded him.View attachment 561149

I had 4 yellow labs from when they were merely 5-6 months old. Had them for 4 years and eventually gave them away because they weren't going to work out long term with my BP or Severum. They are really fun fish though, like most African cichlids in general. Always begging for food haha.

 

Some of them can be pretty tough. I think its the luck of the draw. Most Yellow Labs are relatively mild mannered as compared to most Mbuna, but there's always that mean one out there. Look close at the right side of the pic. Pictured is a "really" tough Yellow Lab I once kept. He was totally out of place, but holding his own against much larger Red & Green Terrors. Sadly, I traded him.View attachment 561149

Wow that’s amazing, that little African Mbuna defending itself against those new world brutes!

 

Labs are one of the more aggressive Cichlids.

My male pseudotropheus socolofj and metriclima pulpican over dominate him with their extreme speed and ferocity, have him running back to his cave, those fish are the only two who succeeded in breeding and creating offspring in my 75 gallon tank!

 

My male pseudotropheus socolofj and metriclima pulpican over dominate him with their extreme speed and ferocity, have him running back to his cave, those fish are the only two who succeeded in breeding and creating offspring in my 75 gallon tank!

I had a tank with breeding yellow Labs and Demasoni. It was incredibly peaceful despite the known spawning aggressiveness of both types of fish. Of course I had 6 clown loaches, 7 giant danios a huge clown catfish and a giant common pleco. I think they all kept each other too distracted to cause any trouble!