KYoga flameback coloring problem

[cant009]

Hello there. I am new to the site and this is my first post lol. Anyways I had a question for my fellow fish keepers. I have recently purchased some kyoga flameback's and for some reason they aren't coloring up well. I bought them and I know I have at least 3 males because I saw color on them when I bought them, but now they aren't coloring. My jewel cichlid's have the same problem. All my other cichlid's are coloring up just great like my Blue ahli, my Johanni, even my ob ahli's are doing good, but for some reason my Kyoga's and my Jewel's are not doing well. Could I get some tips on how to get my Kyoga's to color?? Thank you and thanks for reading.

 

[cant009]

Oh and I forgot to mention I am feeding them veggie flake with 38% protein 4-6 times a day and the fish are about 2 inches. Thanks

 

[wrslrcichlid]

Well, I have never kept this species but some species just take longer to color up and at 2" this could be the case. Now since you mentioned they had color when you bought them, maybe that is not the problem. Another reason is that some fish will only color up when they are the dominant fish. For example, I rescued 4 Pundamilia nyererei from a buddy that was moving and they were absolutely gorgeous in his tank (at least 2 were male). Unfortunately in my tank they have stayed basically a silver with slight coloring on the dorsal fins because my tank is a mbuna/hap tank. They are very healthy and definitely hold their own just fine, but aren't the dominant fish so they don't color up.

It could also be the food. I don't know the brand so I can't comment on the quality of your food, but quality does matter. Personally I like new life spectrum and get great color out of my mbuna and haps, but there are other quality foods out there such as omega one and hikari. Again, not saying your food isn't quality, but could be a factor.

Hope others can comment to give more specific advice on this fish.

Also, here are two articles on kyoga flamebacks. Not entirely sure if they are talking about the exact same species since they use different scientific names, but I know many of the Lake Victorian cichlids are in the process of being reclassified so they are likely talking about the same fish.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1550

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/x_kyoga_flameback.php

 

[cant009]

Thank you very much and the food I use is HBH Natural Veggie Flake Basic from Kensfish.com. Thanks again