Lake Malawi Species • Fish ID help please: Saulosi?

[Ddraig23]

Hi all
I’m new to Mbuna so would appreciate advice from the knowledgeable. I was sold these as Pseudotropheus / Chindonga saulosi. 4/12 old, approx 5 cm. 3 darker fish are bluish but lack the vertical stripes so I’m now having doubts about ID. Any advice / thoughts gratefully received. They are in a quarantine tank so excuse the decor!

Thanks!

[Kagia]

Looks like some variety of labeotropheus.

[Fogelhund]

These are hybrids, with some Labeotropheus in them, but no saulosi.

[Ddraig23]

Many thanks to both responders
I feared as much. What are the risks of them cross- breeding with saulosi?

[noki]

Many thanks to both responders
I feared as much. What are the risks of them cross- breeding with saulosi?

They could breed with Saulosi, since they may be more dominant and may not have proper partners to breed with. Hybrids are not sure who to breed with, so they can readily breed with anyone somewhat close. Mbuna easily mix anyway in an aquarium, so you want fish that you can be certain that the fry are pure, if you are planning on saving fry.

Is that yellow one really that yellow?

[Ddraig23]

Yes - pics are slightly ‘bluer’ than real colours. Yellow is v yellow but do have egg spots. When I bought them the darker fish were pale / blueish but I thought that was because they were with much larger peacocks. I thought they would colour up and show bars. They have darkened but no sign of any stripes...