What kind of fish is this?

[Jim2982]

When I brought this fish home from the LFS it was kind of a rusty brown color and the guy there told me it was a Rusty Cichlid. Now it's a really pretty blue color with a white fringe on it's dorsal and anal fins. Is it a peacock? It looks very similar to my Sunshine Peacock, just a different color. I'd really like to know what it is.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN1117.jpg

[greeneyed]

Looks like an Icy Blue Peacock, But I'm no cichlid keeper, so wait for someone who knows.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Yeah, it's what is commonly known as an Iceberg! Lucky you! I love them!

[kewlkatdady]

I'm not sure that's either
Copadichromis azureus AKA: Hap Chrysonotus
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1008

or
Copadichromis chrysonotus
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1011

Both of which are known as the Chrysonotus...

Was your fish silver and have 3 spots on it when it was young or was it more brown and striped?

[Jim2982]

It was kind of a rusty brown color with darker brown stripes. I have two others that still look like that. I'm assuming they're female peacocks? Anyway I thought all three of them were the same, but then this guy gained all this color, so... Whatever it is I'm happy! He looks a million times better now than he did all brown. lol Thanks for the responses!

[kewlkatdady]

if it was brown...Its some varient of peacock.

Here's a link to several different Peacock's:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=3

There are pictures for most of them.

[Jim2982]

Thanks kewlkatdady. I looked through the pics in that link and I'm pretty sure it's the Aulonocara Hueseri.

[kewlkatdady]

If it has just colored up...it may still change a little more...

Or if its a hybrid of some sort...

But needless to say its a very nice fish...and well worth what you paid for it if they though it was a Rusty.

Nice snag.

[Jim2982]

Oh yeah, I got a couple really good deals at Fish N Chirps here in Denton that weekend they had the 20% off sale. I got him and a Dimidiochromis Compressiceps for $5 each. They were both pretty small, about 2 inches, but well worth $5 for sure.

[Jim2982]

OK, you were right, he's changed colors a little more. Still blue, with the white edging on the dorsal fin, but now that white goes all the way down between his eyes on his forehead. And his anal fin is more orangish, with some orange spots on the caudal fin and a slight hint of orange at the caudal peduncle. He really looks awesome, I can't believe he's got so much color now after being plain old brown before. Is that how all peacocks go? Dull brown fry that sometimes take a couple months to color up? It was well worth the wait anyway.

[kewlkatdady]

yes...all young peacocks will be brown and boring. If it is a MALE, it will color up to what you see in pictures...
if its a female...it will stay that brown color for its entire life.

[Jim2982]

OK, in that case, I'm assuming the two that are still brown are females, and if I take them out, and keep only males, will that keep the aggression down or help it at all?

[bra8ndy8]

I would keep them in...it helps the male color up...and will usually help them not be so aggressive.

[Jim2982]

Oh ok, I was thinking having no females would mean nothing to fight over for the males.

[kewlkatdady]

I'm more on the side of no females... nothing to fight over.

But I've seen agression both ways... Just make sure there are plenty of places to hide and keep an eye on things once they get a little bigger. No reason to pull the females yet if agression is not bad. Time will tell.

[Jim2982]

OK, guess I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks.

[fishman76092]

Your fish is neither Aulonacara hueseri nor an 'Iceberg'. It is Sciaenochromis fryeri. Technically, an 'Iceberg' is also the same species but from a different locale in Lake Malawi. The biggest difference is the white dorsal area on the Iceberg-whereas the normal 'Electric Blue Hap' is blue without the thick white dorsal area-although it may have a white stripe down the nape.

Here are some photos:
The real Aulonacara hueseri:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://research.yale.edu/peabody/CICHLID/CK/hueseri.jpg&imgrefurl=http://malawicichlids.com/mw08003d.htm&h=268&w=400&sz=40&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=1O-C9y09jMT24M:&tbnh=83&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daulonocara%2Bhueseri%26svnum%3D10%26u m%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Your fish:
http://www.africancichlids.net/gallery/sciaenochromis_fryeri3.jpg

Iceberg version:
http://aquaria.ru/img/berezin/CRW_5339.jpg

[Jim2982]

Sweet. Thanks fishman. You're right, it is an Aulonocara Fryeri.

[fishman76092]

Not Aulonacara, rather Sciaenochromis is the Genus

[Jim2982]

Oh OK, my bad. I though all peacocks were aulonocara's.

[fishman76092]

Its not a peacock, its a 'Haplochromis'...aka 'Hap'