The Cichlid Room Companion Ask Pam

Hi jwrivendell, I think Undu Reef and Undu Point are the same. When you are looking at a species page on CRC, the link is below, after the picture and before the profile you have a menu to click on, you can hit map and it will show you the collection points of the species, and then can drill down fu...

Hi jwrivendell, Blue Neon is really a common name and there are many blue and yellow peacocks that it could apply to. But I think the when I hear Blue Neon, I think of Aulonocara stuartgranti undu reef. All of these peacocks that are purebred have a scientific name, and knowing that can help you get...

Hi Daryl, The current scientific name is: Metriaclima fainzilberi This is really a beauty and their colors are spectacular! It is your typical mbuna, as far as maintenance, diet and breeding. They are a harem spawner so having a group (6-8) is essential. They are on the larger size for mbuna, so it ...

Hi Jeff, Oh dear, you don't say what exlamprologus you are keeping? There are quite a few out there. However, the size of your tank is quite small, so I don't think I would add any tank mates at this point. Neolamprologus pulcher is the correct scientific name these days. All brichardi are really pu...

Hi Gregor, I believe this term Ophthalmotilapia sp. whitecap is a term from African Diving Ltd. Where they (African Diving Ltd.) are using the term white cap, Konings is using ventralis and the term "Big Blue". Ventralis is the current recognized name. African Diving has expressed an opini...

Hi Gregor, Well I can see why that is a little confusing. But if you open the species page, under nomenclature history the current scientific name is C. frontosa. I am not sure why CRC still has them broke out, other than easy to look at, you don't have to scroll thru all the sp.north or 6 bar to ge...

Hi Melloncollic, Even though many of these species may be in the same type habitat, they have each found their "best" way to utilize shells. Each one had to figure out a way to keep their species going and this is why we see so many different types of shell dwellers. "Lamprologus"...

Hi Jen, The current scientific name is Xenotilapia nigrolabiata Cherry Princess or Red Princess. I think they should be kept in a species only tank, minimum 4' long, 6' long would be best. Temperature 76 degress F., pH as high as you can get it. 9.0 would ideal. They need a good quality cichlid flak...

Hi Joey, That is not your best choice either. Just do a species only tank, and in time the similis will fill it. It will be a neat tank, you can make it into a shell bed with a few plants. Because they are colony breeders, they really do best by themselves. I think you will enjoy it! Cichlid Power! ...

Hi Joey, I don't think that is a good choice, the leleupi will eat the similis fry and even young adults. Not to mention the mental stress of being housed with a predator. A much better choice would be species of Julidochromis, Chalinochromis and other liked size Lamps, even compressiceps or calvus....

Hi Breet, There is always variation within the population. And often mood/well being/health will dictate the color as well. But if you want to breed the best to the best, to have the highest quality possible, after you exhaust all possibilities of health, you may want to cut it from your breeding gr...

Hi Greg, It sounds like you are having issues with the tumbler. I have not used the ziss tumbler, mainly because it looks very complicated, and the "vessel" that holds the eggs is very large, so I can see some having issues with air volume. I still stand by my quote... “Remember once the h...

Hi BRCA, They are all Labidochromis caeruleus. There is some variation between the location sites. I see several differences between the kakusa and mbowe populations in the Konings book, 5th edition, on page 143. Consider the pectoral fins in the kakusa; there is no black coloration and the black in...

HI Ali, Congrats on the spawn! Teleocichla proselytus is a very cool fish from South America. Because it has been around a while, it was described by Kullander in 1988, I am sure it has been bred before. Since this is probably considered rare in the hobby, it is still a feather in your cap! I would ...

Hi Fissh,

Boy I don't know of anyone that is selling extra fry. I have seen as wild on a few lists but no fry lately that I can think of. It is a tough one to spawn and the clutches are small. Did you try the Wet Spot in Portland or Daves Rare Fish?

Good Luck in your search!
Cichlid Power!
Pam