ptyochromis sp.salmon hippo point

[deadman]

i have started working with this species. they are a lake victorian region species, they are very colorful, males color is bright salmon red to a brilliant green. females are battle tank grey and only mildly aggressive. the ph i keep them at is 8.0 the are a snail eater and also consume a varitey of foods like dainichi delux and freez dried plankton. they are in a 100 gal community tank with pundamillia nyereri ingomi island and sp.44 and hap limax. i didnt notice any attempts at cross breeding as all these are very diffrent. they are all just under 3 inches or just over three inches.
they have spawned and it seems that during this the female is the more aqgressive. she will send all others running. the males i have continually are flashing the females, weather they show any tubing or not. i keep two males with 4 females as this keeps the dominant male bright red. but no fighting between them. here are a few pics of some of them. the flash washes out a lot of the red and makes it look some what orange.


http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/fulu-1/S7301282.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/fulu-1/CopyofS7301250.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/fulu-1/CopyofS7301247.jpg

the other fish is a sub dominant xtyochromis phytophagus
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/fulu-1/Copy2ofS7301245.jpg

[tsunderl]

Very cool! I like the unusual coloration they have. Keep us updated on how they do!

[biggin]

Very nice fish.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Thanks for posting some photos of some very colorful cichlids!

[supersmirky]

Thats some cool fish! I bet the red in the male is much better in person! Good luck with these!

[deadman]

i have found that the victorian region species will be the thing to have as far as africans are concerned in the not so distant future with in the hobby.
however since they very rarley, almost never import from there, and many species now only being found in the hobby with thier natural populations either extinct or near the brink of extinction that captive propagation is vital. not to mention thier rare status makes them sought after once person realises what a gem they reallly are.
yes the pictures really cant do them justice!!

[bra8ndy8]

Gorgeous!!