Tyrannochromis

[cepon3]

Hey guys. i got some new pick ups for my African Cichlid predator tank.. the stock is as follows at around 8 inches and the frontosa is around 4 inches:

(m)Rhamphochromis esox
(?)Rhamphochromis macrathalmus
(m)Exochochromis anagenys
(?)Cyphotilapia frontosa

i also have a nice Tyrannochromis sp.
so far when i search for any information for a proper I.D. on my male i get mixed pictures and I.D.'s..if im not mistaken i have gathered there is 3 species of tyrannochromis;

Macrastoma
Nigriventer
Maculiceps

Does anyone know the difference between the Maculiceps and Macrastoma?, havent had the time to get a proper picture, but he is darker in color with a blueish tint on his flanks, but lacks the body shape and head structure of Nigriventer. Huge mouth and lips that slightly potrude...

Any info would be helpful, thanks

Anthony

 

[Wimmels]

If you have a photo that would help a lot.

There are 4 listed species so far:
Macrostoma
Maculiceps
Nigriventer
Polyodon

Where the Nigriventer and Macrostoma are the most "common" tyrannochromis.

On a side note you have 2 different varietes of the nigriventer as well the Northern and the Southern variant.

The Nigriventer is the easiest Identifiable of these 4, the largest difference between the Nigriventer and the rest of the species is its bone structure:
If you look at the "nose" of the animal(the portruding bone between the tip of the nose and eyes on top of the head), the Nigriventer will have it grown about halfway between the nose and eyes. The remaining 3 species will have it grown to about 3/4 to the height of the eyes.

It is quite difficult to explain but once you have seen these species alongside each other its very clear.

The Polyodon looks a lot like the macrostoma in build but appears to be duller in color and instead of the yellow on the belly it is brownish(I don't know this for sure this I know from hear say, this is the only remaining Tyrannochromis species I/we don't have yet)

The Maculiceps is a totally different fish compared to the Nigriventer and Macrostoma its build is a lot Higher on the body, and doesn't get as blue as the rest. They have very large mouths as well

Tyranochromis Nigriventer (Southern) Male and Female:
http://malawi.wimmels.com/visbestand/Tyrannochromis_Nigriventer_8.jpg
The 3 top attached photo's

Tyrannochromis Macrostoma(Don't mind the picture names as I bought them as Maculiceps but they appeared to be Macrostoma's once my:
Look at the 2 last attached photo's as well

Sorry about the bad macrostoma Pictures they are swimming in my buddies tank now(3,5meter x 0.8 x 0.8) and he is feeling more at home now as I had to many aggressive males in my tank. He has better pictures as well as pictures from the Maculiceps.

 

[Pharaoh]

Nice pics. They look awesome.

 

[cepon3]

These are the best pictures i can get of him.. hes always chasing everything else around.. please let me know.. he seems to be coloring up nicely

 

[Wimmels]

These are definately not Nigriventers, and if I look at the female she is the typical "Blackbelly", these are some real nice Macrostoma's.

Once the male colors up it should look like this:

These aren't my own photo's, I borrowed these from Henri Molenkamp. Take note these are fully developed Macrostoma's a couple years old when the photo's were made

 

[mshuangchao]

Wow, very impressive color on that male!

 

[cepon3]

thanks bro for all the help.. i see his yellow stomach and gills starting to get some deeper color.. i guess its just a waiting game and a coouple of females away from what in the pictures..

 

[Wimmels]

I would like to see some new photo's once your male colors up

 

[cepon3]

ill defiantely try and get you some.. do you have any idea where i may be able to find a couple females?

 

[Wimmels]

Uhrm in the Malawi Lake I guess

No I don't know where you can get them in the USA

I buy my fish at a very large and specialized store that catch there own fish in Malawi. This is about 900 km driving for me was well.

A buddy of mine goes to Malawi on a regular basis to dive and so on and sometimes he catches himself some special fish.