I know!! I love the way they look its so intersting, I saw them on a websites ordering list and thought hmm so I looked them up! I want to get them but shippings to much =( I have to see if my lfs can get them in.
Educating MFK on Africans!
- Thread starter Ash
- Start date
OK, I tried looking for this one but couldn't find any info. I don't have any pictures, and only have the "common name". It's "basengi" - red fire queen. Never heard, but I saw it on a wholesale list. Thanks in advance.
Okay, looks like some clever marketing here. Based on what I have seen in other posts regarding this fish and the location where a very common red colored hap originates from, here is what I haved deduced:
1. I believe that "basengi" is actually Senga Bay
2. "Red fire queen" is actually a Red Empress
Here's a link to some info on this fish. Males can be very beautiful, but the one I had was very aggressive. Others I have known had individuals that were much more calm than mine was so mine may have just been a particularly beligerent individual.
1. I believe that "basengi" is actually Senga Bay
2. "Red fire queen" is actually a Red Empress
Here's a link to some info on this fish. Males can be very beautiful, but the one I had was very aggressive. Others I have known had individuals that were much more calm than mine was so mine may have just been a particularly beligerent individual.
hah! Completely what I didn't imagine. Red fire queen sounded like it's super beautiful, but the fish you posted is nice, just not what I imagined. Thanks 
The picture on that page that I linked to was not spectacular. These pages have some pictures of some more spectacular individuals:
http://www.cichlidae.com/tanks/contest/phase-06.php
http://www.malawi.cichlids.ru/articles/article.php?&art_id=199&cat=2
http://www.cichlidae.com/tanks/contest/phase-06.php
http://www.malawi.cichlids.ru/articles/article.php?&art_id=199&cat=2
Julidochromis dickfeldi (Nice but small! Maybe a suggestion for those of you who have smaller tanks and want Africans 
I like them!)
General:
This slender, African fish native to the southwestern area of Lake Tanganyika in Africa. This attractive fish is a secretive cave spawner with interesting brood care. The parents will raise several generations of babies together and are great Moms and Dads. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the sexes of this fish. I believe, and a number of sources confirm, that the females are generally the larger fish. Julidochromis dickfeldi don't get very big, only about 3 inches or so, so you could consider this a dwarf cichlid. They are well suited to smaller tanks because they maintain rather small territories.
Care:
Julidochromis dickfeldi don't like soft water, but they will do fine in neutral or moderately hard water. Julidochromis dickfeldi does not need a very large tank a standard 20 gallon tank will do. Fine gravel for the bottom of the tank and lots of rockwork to simulate caves and hiding places. Julidochromis dickfeldi is territorial, but with the proper tank set-up you can easily limit it. An interesting thing about this fish is that really doesn't move around outside of its territory. Julidochromis dickfeldi will act aggressively toward conspecifics, so don't keep it with any other julies. I suggest a species tank for this fish.
Water: pH range: 8.5 to 9.2 and dH range: 8.0 to 12.0., Temp: Tropical mid 70's-80's
Feeding:
If you look at Julidochromis dickfeldi, you'll notice the downward pointing mouth. In the lake, these fish graze on crustaceans and other small creatures found on the rocks. This is not a fish that will rush to the surface when you feed them! They'll stay within a couple of inches of the bottom and peck at food as it floats down. A large variety of prepared foods such as flake, New Life Spectrum pellets, bloodworms, etc.
Breeding:
Julidochromis dickfeldi isn't difficult to breed, but some patience is required for two reasons:
They have to be about a year old before they breed
It's not easy to tell when they've bred!
I suggest that you obtain six to eight fry or juvenile fish and grow them up together.
At one year, Julidochromis dickfeldi will start pairing off. If you've provided rockwork and caves, you'll notice a pair drive away other fish from their territory. After a month or so of "decorating" their new home, excavating gravel, etc., the fish may breed. You may notice increased activity within the cave, and one of the fish may rarely come out because it is guarding eggs. The eggs are laid on the roof or side of a cave almost always out of view. The babies are very small when born, and initially feed on small organisms present in the aquarium. One of the great things about Julidochromis dickfeldi is that the juveniles will help raise succeeding generations of fish. At one point, I had five generations of babies from 1/8th inch long up to about 3/4 of an inch long. The fry have an interesting habit of hanging motionless, orienting themselves vertically or horizontally to match the rockwork. Julidochromis dickfeldi fry grow very slowly taking about four months to reach one inch in length. Fry are easily damaged by rough netting, so be especially careful when you move them.
I like them!)General:
This slender, African fish native to the southwestern area of Lake Tanganyika in Africa. This attractive fish is a secretive cave spawner with interesting brood care. The parents will raise several generations of babies together and are great Moms and Dads. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the sexes of this fish. I believe, and a number of sources confirm, that the females are generally the larger fish. Julidochromis dickfeldi don't get very big, only about 3 inches or so, so you could consider this a dwarf cichlid. They are well suited to smaller tanks because they maintain rather small territories.
Care:
Julidochromis dickfeldi don't like soft water, but they will do fine in neutral or moderately hard water. Julidochromis dickfeldi does not need a very large tank a standard 20 gallon tank will do. Fine gravel for the bottom of the tank and lots of rockwork to simulate caves and hiding places. Julidochromis dickfeldi is territorial, but with the proper tank set-up you can easily limit it. An interesting thing about this fish is that really doesn't move around outside of its territory. Julidochromis dickfeldi will act aggressively toward conspecifics, so don't keep it with any other julies. I suggest a species tank for this fish.
Water: pH range: 8.5 to 9.2 and dH range: 8.0 to 12.0., Temp: Tropical mid 70's-80's
Feeding:
If you look at Julidochromis dickfeldi, you'll notice the downward pointing mouth. In the lake, these fish graze on crustaceans and other small creatures found on the rocks. This is not a fish that will rush to the surface when you feed them! They'll stay within a couple of inches of the bottom and peck at food as it floats down. A large variety of prepared foods such as flake, New Life Spectrum pellets, bloodworms, etc.
Breeding:
Julidochromis dickfeldi isn't difficult to breed, but some patience is required for two reasons:
They have to be about a year old before they breed
It's not easy to tell when they've bred!
I suggest that you obtain six to eight fry or juvenile fish and grow them up together.
At one year, Julidochromis dickfeldi will start pairing off. If you've provided rockwork and caves, you'll notice a pair drive away other fish from their territory. After a month or so of "decorating" their new home, excavating gravel, etc., the fish may breed. You may notice increased activity within the cave, and one of the fish may rarely come out because it is guarding eggs. The eggs are laid on the roof or side of a cave almost always out of view. The babies are very small when born, and initially feed on small organisms present in the aquarium. One of the great things about Julidochromis dickfeldi is that the juveniles will help raise succeeding generations of fish. At one point, I had five generations of babies from 1/8th inch long up to about 3/4 of an inch long. The fry have an interesting habit of hanging motionless, orienting themselves vertically or horizontally to match the rockwork. Julidochromis dickfeldi fry grow very slowly taking about four months to reach one inch in length. Fry are easily damaged by rough netting, so be especially careful when you move them.
General:
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi is one of the largest of the cichlids generically called peacocks. Not large as far as cichlids go, but males can attain a size up to 8 or 9 inches, females somewhat smaller. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the most popular. Originally called Trematocranus jacobfreibergi or the Malawi Butterfly, it was one of the first peacocks brought into this country in the early seventies. There are several populations available today all grouped under the name Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. The most common are the "Otter Point" and the "Lemon Jake". Others include the "Hongi Island" and the "Cape Kaiser". Recently some albino A. jacobfreibergi varieties have surfaced.
Habitat:
A. jacobfreibergi is present in different populations in both the northern and southern parts of Lake Malawi. They are found in both sandy and rocky parts of the lake. The males like to occupy caves and will fight off all invaders into their territory.
Care:
A. jacobfreibergi likes hard alkaline water around 76-82 degrees, although they will tolerate slightly higher or lower temperatures. Some salt may be added but they do fine without. As stated, A. jacobfreibergi likes a sandy to rocky habitat and caves should be included. Minimum tank size for a pair is 20 gallons.
Feeding:
A. jacobfreibergi fry are relatively large and can eat anything. Start them out with newly hatched brine shrimp. If you prefer you can start them out with infusoria and/or microworms. Adults will readily eat flake food, pellet food, adult brine shrimp, bloodworms and earthworms. In the wild they eat insect larvae and crustaceans.
Breeding:
A. jacobfreibergi are typical Lake Malawi cichlids. Wild fish do best when one male is in a tank with 4-6 females.A minimum tank size of 55 gallons, a 75 gallon even better. If you raise young to get a breeding colony, sometimes a second male in the tank will be fine. Caution must be used if you use two males. One, you should always use the best male for breeding and with two males in the tank you can never be sure who is fathering the young*. Secondly, two males living harmoniously together one day makes a great battle the next. Keeping a second male in another tank is probably best. Then you have a spare to step in when needed.
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi is one of the largest of the cichlids generically called peacocks. Not large as far as cichlids go, but males can attain a size up to 8 or 9 inches, females somewhat smaller. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the most popular. Originally called Trematocranus jacobfreibergi or the Malawi Butterfly, it was one of the first peacocks brought into this country in the early seventies. There are several populations available today all grouped under the name Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. The most common are the "Otter Point" and the "Lemon Jake". Others include the "Hongi Island" and the "Cape Kaiser". Recently some albino A. jacobfreibergi varieties have surfaced.
Habitat:
A. jacobfreibergi is present in different populations in both the northern and southern parts of Lake Malawi. They are found in both sandy and rocky parts of the lake. The males like to occupy caves and will fight off all invaders into their territory.
Care:
A. jacobfreibergi likes hard alkaline water around 76-82 degrees, although they will tolerate slightly higher or lower temperatures. Some salt may be added but they do fine without. As stated, A. jacobfreibergi likes a sandy to rocky habitat and caves should be included. Minimum tank size for a pair is 20 gallons.
Feeding:
A. jacobfreibergi fry are relatively large and can eat anything. Start them out with newly hatched brine shrimp. If you prefer you can start them out with infusoria and/or microworms. Adults will readily eat flake food, pellet food, adult brine shrimp, bloodworms and earthworms. In the wild they eat insect larvae and crustaceans.
Breeding:
A. jacobfreibergi are typical Lake Malawi cichlids. Wild fish do best when one male is in a tank with 4-6 females.A minimum tank size of 55 gallons, a 75 gallon even better. If you raise young to get a breeding colony, sometimes a second male in the tank will be fine. Caution must be used if you use two males. One, you should always use the best male for breeding and with two males in the tank you can never be sure who is fathering the young*. Secondly, two males living harmoniously together one day makes a great battle the next. Keeping a second male in another tank is probably best. Then you have a spare to step in when needed.
