Title: Auratus.
Description: How many are there?
Vip - June 18, 2005 04:23 AM (GMT)
nici's dad wants to get more of these fish but i told him im sure that there is more than the one that we have (see pic) what are there names and can they live in the same tank?
Seedy - June 18, 2005 04:41 AM (GMT)
Well...There are quite a few Melanochomis species out there....but as far as I know, only one variety of M. auratus.....
Melanochromis are considered Mbuna, and IMO are on the highest end of the Mbuna aggresion scale...You could do a large Mbuna tank with Melanochomis species, however hybridization would be a big issue....
here is a good article on the genus....
http://www.cichlidae.com/articles/a080.php Cobotis - June 18, 2005 05:09 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Vip @ Jun 18 2005, 04:23 AM) |
| nici's dad wants to get more of these fish but i told him im sure that there is more than the one that we have (see pic) what are there names and can they live in the same tank? |
...Hi.. :)
As far as Melanochromis Auratus goes there are actually around four different variants of that species....but I would refrain from housing them together or it would lead to crossbreeding between different variants...also "adult" Auratus males will not tolerate any "adult" males of the same species or simular looking species...(they will be killed or harrassed to death) ...and personally ..I would choose not to mix africans with S.A's due to the different water parameter requirements ...although they both do well in neutral water it seems.....they do better in the proper pH for thier biotope...
Vip - June 18, 2005 05:15 PM (GMT)
Wouldnt worry about the hybrids as fry wouldnt last to long in the tank. As for mixing, that pic is old and most of those fish died last month besides the 11" midas, sev and con..
Seedy - June 18, 2005 11:48 PM (GMT)
Great advice cobotis!
I am not surprised that M. auratus has geographic varients....do you happen to know what the varients are? I am not familiar with them.
Oh...and as far as getting VIP to stop mixing continents.....I gave up on that over a year ago... :crazy:
Cobotis - June 19, 2005 11:39 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Seedy @ Jun 18 2005, 11:48 PM) |
Great advice cobotis!
I am not surprised that M. auratus has geographic varients....do you happen to know what the varients are? I am not familiar with them.
Oh...and as far as getting VIP to stop mixing continents.....I gave up on that over a year ago... :crazy: |
..Hi..:)
so far I've counted five definate variants ..they only differ slightly ...and it's usually more visable in the male population..
Thumby West
Nkhomo Reef
Namalenge Island
Nacantenga Island
Mbenji Island
Seedy - June 20, 2005 03:03 AM (GMT)
..Hi.. :) again!
jay Good stuff!...do you have any links to articles/pictures? :pics:
Vip - June 20, 2005 03:37 AM (GMT)
Cool webpage Cobotis. Your good at your photography.
Cobotis - June 20, 2005 06:45 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Seedy @ Jun 20 2005, 03:03 AM) |
..Hi.. :) again!
jay Good stuff!...do you have any links to articles/pictures? :pics: |
...Hi..:)
...There are some located on the cichlid press site...but they are poor quality because they want you to buy buy buy!!!...there's another site I lost that has like 7-8 variants listed...I just need to find it again....
Cobotis - June 20, 2005 06:47 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Vip @ Jun 20 2005, 03:37 AM) |
| Cool webpage Cobotis. Your good at your photography. |
Thanks..:) I enjoy getting good pics...I toss many more bad ones then there are good ones...