Lake Tanganyika Species • 100g Shellie tank

[fishguy1978]

Greetings, I am new to the forum but not to fish. I started 14ish years ago with 2 red eared slider turtles and then started reading aquarium books. I was instantly hooked on the idea of planted aquaria which I have done for most of my aquarium keeping. I spent 2 years profesionally in New York city installing and maintaining mostly salt water aquariums for NY Aquarium Maintenance, now Manhatten Aquarium.
Jump to the present. I now reside in the Fircrest, Washington state. I scored a free 100g acrylic off CL and spent several hours buffing scratches. My oldest daughter wanted me to set up an African cichlid tank leaning towards peacocks and malawi cichlids. As Cl would have it, I found someone rehoming 4 N. Multi for free and the tank direction was decided. After reading up on Multie tank mates I began looking for C. Leptosoma with no variant specific needed. I was calling every aquarium store from Portland thru Kirkland looking for these fish. I finally hit the jackpot when I found a local breeder 2hrs away with both Multies and Cyps needing rehoming due to their needed to move. I purchased 12 Cyp and 15 multies, both breeding colonies being a mixed adults and juveniles. Within a week I had a female Cyp holding eggs.

[The Morning]

The tank looks great. Any chance of getting some close ups?

[Deeda]

Congrats on the tank setup, looks very nice! Also on getting additional Multies and some Cyprichromis.

[fishguy1978]

Dominant Cyp male hasn't stopped doing his shake dance and some of the juve males have started to dance as well.

[fishguy1978]

I HAVE MULTIE FRY!!!!

[Deeda]

Congratulations!!!

[fishguy1978]

I thought there were just a couple but they are everywhere. I am more amazed because they have only been in the aquarium for 2 weeks.

[noddy]

Very nice. Looks like you might have Cyp. Utinta there. A beautiful non-jumbo cyp.

[fishguy1978]

Very nice. Looks like you might have Cyp. Utinta there. A beautiful non-jumbo cyp.

From what I have seen online the “Utinta” and the “Kerengi is.”look fairly similar. The breeder said I could have some blue tails as well.

[noddy]

Very nice. Looks like you might have Cyp. Utinta there. A beautiful non-jumbo cyp.

From what I have seen online the “Utinta” and the “Kerengi is.”look fairly similar. The breeder said I could have some blue tails as well.

They were sold as "Kerenge"? No need to think they aren't then. Kerenge and Utinta are very similar. I noticed the spot at the rear of the dorsal which I always associate with Utinta. A little research tells me that they both have the dorsal spot. You learn something new every day.
My Utinta would spit out blue/yellow and orange tail males.

[fishguy1978]

Comparing pics of "Utinta" and "Kerengi Is." looks like "U" doesn't have the vertical bars that the "K" have?

[DJRansome]

If they were not sold to you with a collection point, I don't think you can ID from appearance.

[fishguy1978]

If they were not sold to you with a collection point, I don't think you can ID from appearance.

They were sold as “Kerengi Is.” Being new to Lake T and Cyp’s especially I’m just curious and trying to learn the difference between the collection areas.

[noddy]

Comparing pics of "Utinta" and "Kerengi Is." looks like "U" doesn't have the vertical bars that the "K" have?

Utinta will show bars as well depending on the mood.

[fishguy1978]

The tank looks great. Any chance of getting some close ups?

Been a bit since I posted. I just added a video to youtube so I could share more about the tank.
https://youtu.be/iv3BitRaOW8