Tropheus Murago Moba Variants Confusion

Q&A About Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

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DireWolf
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:39 pm

Tropheus Murago Moba Variants Confusion

Post by DireWolf »

Hi Pam,

I bought WC that were labeled when imported 5 years ago as Tropheus Murago Moba II. I believed these to be considered the “green murago”. I sold that group a while back and just bought F1 adults from the group. I am looking to add some females through a local store who will bring them in for me. I really want to make sure I get the same species/CP.

I see here the Moba II labeled the yellow, yet everywhere else I see the Moba II as the green:
https://bluechipaquaticsonline.com/wild ... ba-ii.html

I have also read the yellow are collected at zongwe, and the green at moba.

I see your 2 Youtube videos.

Tropheus sp. maculatus mulunguzi - Green Murago Congo
Video of them look darkish, maybe the reddish lighting.

Tropheus sp maculatus kikoti - Yellow Murago Congo
These look more like mine so I am a bit confused.

Here are 2 videos of the original WC group when I had them in 2 different tanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQBGN4WEN5Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFa0Kgbgtc

Pictures are of the F1 group I just got.

I hope you can clarify for me what I have, and the difference between the 2 species, such as collection points and any distinguishing features.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Greg
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Pam Chin
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Re: Tropheus Murago Moba Variants Confusion

Post by Pam Chin »

Hi Greg,

By looking at your pictures I would say you have Tropheus sp. maculatus kikoti, the yellow murago. Based on their coloration and the size of the spots on the head. The yellow murago's have much smaller spots.

Then Tropheus sp. maculatus mulunguzi is the green murago. It is much darker and the spots on the heads are much larger.

The confusing part about the location sites is the Aqualog itself. They are based on Brichard's trip down the west coast in the late 80's. They were not letting anyone know those fish had been discovered, and so they are very vague about the location site. Since the Aqualog has been published the Civil war in DR Congo has lighten up some, and that area has been explored more and the species have been documented with the correct locations. But still looking at the Aqualog, the Moba II appears to be the yellow murago to me.

The Tropheus found at Zongwe is now also Tropheus sp. maculatus, but it doesn't have any spots on its head.

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