Can you help me identify what type of cichlid i have?

[MonsterFishCreeper]

Mbuna is a whole group of fish that refers to African cichlids that generally inhabit rocky structures in their natural habitat. Mbuna is not one specific fish but a whole group of fishes. Kenyi are one species of mbuna. You should just research keeping mbuna in general and you'll soon realize that even in a 75 gallon having two male Kenyi will end up with one dead or beaten up. Mbuna are best kept in large groups of 12+ to spread out the aggression. If you want to get into keeping African cichlids you should set up your 75 properly to house them and add at least ten more individuals. 1 male to two females is a decent ratio to start with and I would shoot for 3-4 species in a 75 gallon. Google 75 gallon Mbuna stocking to get some ideas on how to proceed.

 

[senegalrb]

Mbuna (rockfish) is a general term that describes the group of fish that live among the rocks in Lake Malawi. Therefore a Kenyi is a mbuna. Hope that helps clear things up.

Thank you it did clear alot of things up question based from the bahavior i think this is a male will it change color?

 

[joe jaskot]

Thank you it did clear alot of things up question based from the bahavior i think this is a male will it change color?

All kenyi fry are born blue. As they mature, the males turn from blue to yellow. The females remain blue.

 

[senegalrb]

All kenyi fry are born blue. As they mature, the males turn from blue to yellow. The females remain blue.

Oh the petstore that sells these only had yellow ones that range from really small ones to 2 inches

 

[senegalrb]

All kenyi fry are born blue. As they mature, the males turn from blue to yellow. The females remain blue.

do you think its a kenyi? I reasearched and think its a saulosi how do you differentiate the two? Cause i saw juvies in the tank were yellow and they didnt have blue

 

[senegalrb]

Agreed and senegal in case you don't already know they need caves and rock structures in which to hide and stake out their own territories.That should help with the bullying and chasing.

can i ask if you think its a kenyi or a saulosi? Cause ive seen the juvies with them in the tank and they were all yellow. How do you differentiate kenyi to saulosi. This fish on the photo is around 2 and i have 3 other smaller ones with him in the tank.

 

[senegalrb]

That's not a yellow lab. It's a mbuna species.

hello can i ask if you think its a kenyi or a saulosi. Im really confused cause the juvies in the tank where i got them from had only yellow mbunas like him ranging to really small to 2'

 

[markstrimaran]

This is a juvenile 1.75" Lake Malawi Yellow Lab.
Mbuna,

This one is 2.5" and is from the same group of fry. They are all solid yellow at first

 

[krichardson]

can i ask if you think its a kenyi or a saulosi? Cause ive seen the juvies with them in the tank and they were all yellow. How do you differentiate kenyi to saulosi. This fish on the photo is around 2 and i have 3 other smaller ones with him in the tank.

From what I can tell the kenyi seems to have thicker bars or banding when they are visible on the fish.
this a kenyi, ...and this one is a saulosi which is what I think that you have.

 

[senegalrb]

From what I can tell the kenyi seems to have thicker bars or banding when they are visible on the fish.
View attachment 1173565 this a kenyi,View attachment 1173566 ...and this one is a saulosi which is what I think that you have.

Thank you for the reply hopefully it is a saulosi and cant wait if they turn blue you rock thanks!