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Here are some nice groupings of readily available fishes that will give you a lot of color variety, aren’t likely to crossbreed, and are reasonably compatible:
1) A highly aggressive community (the loss of all but one male of each species and at least some females is likely: avoid this selection unless you are very brave)
Melanochromis auratus: yellow and dark-brown females, and dark-brown and silver-blue males. Or Melanochromis chipokae: black and electric-blue males, whitish and dark-brown females. M. chipokae is one of the predatory species, with M. melanopterus.
Pseudotropheus elongatus: deep blue and black barred males and brownish females. May be confused with Pseudotropheus minutus, a similarly shaped and colored, but smaller and much less aggressive, fish.
Pseudotropheus crabro: a yellow to golden-brown fish with dark brown vertical bars ("bumble bee").
2) A moderately aggressive community (some fish may still be lost):
Labeotropheus trewavasse: an indigo-blue fish with an orange dorsal (although other color morphs also exist).
Red zebras (Pseudotropheus estherae): a yellow-orange to orange-red fish.
Pseudotropheus minutus: deep blue and black barred males and brownish females. Do not confuse with Pseudotropheus elongatus, a similarly elongated and colored fish, but one that’s larger and much more aggressive.
Melanochromis johannii: black and electric-blue males, pale yellow females.
3) Another moderately aggressive community, (some fish may still be lost):
BB zebra (Pseudotropheus zebra): a stunning "black barred" and blue fish.
Pseudotropheus socolofi: a sky blue fish.
kenyi (Pseudotropheus lombardoi): a fish with blue and silver females, and orange males.
Labeotropheus fuelleborni "OB": an "orange-blotched" fish with an orangish background and black, blue, and white spangles ("calico").
4) A less aggressive community (no losses of fish are expected):
Labidochromis caeruleus: Colors range from spectacular solid yellow, through white, to black bars on a blue background. However, it is likely that these color morphs actually represent separate undescribed species.
Iodotropheus sprengerae: this fish is variable in color (most are quite plain) but nice ones have a yellowish-brown background and mauve sides (and are the only predominantly mauve aquarium fish available).
Cynotilapia afra: a blue and black barred fish with a yellow-orange dorsal fin (although other color morphs also exist).
:thumb:
1) A highly aggressive community (the loss of all but one male of each species and at least some females is likely: avoid this selection unless you are very brave)
Melanochromis auratus: yellow and dark-brown females, and dark-brown and silver-blue males. Or Melanochromis chipokae: black and electric-blue males, whitish and dark-brown females. M. chipokae is one of the predatory species, with M. melanopterus.
Pseudotropheus elongatus: deep blue and black barred males and brownish females. May be confused with Pseudotropheus minutus, a similarly shaped and colored, but smaller and much less aggressive, fish.
Pseudotropheus crabro: a yellow to golden-brown fish with dark brown vertical bars ("bumble bee").
2) A moderately aggressive community (some fish may still be lost):
Labeotropheus trewavasse: an indigo-blue fish with an orange dorsal (although other color morphs also exist).
Red zebras (Pseudotropheus estherae): a yellow-orange to orange-red fish.
Pseudotropheus minutus: deep blue and black barred males and brownish females. Do not confuse with Pseudotropheus elongatus, a similarly elongated and colored fish, but one that’s larger and much more aggressive.
Melanochromis johannii: black and electric-blue males, pale yellow females.
3) Another moderately aggressive community, (some fish may still be lost):
BB zebra (Pseudotropheus zebra): a stunning "black barred" and blue fish.
Pseudotropheus socolofi: a sky blue fish.
kenyi (Pseudotropheus lombardoi): a fish with blue and silver females, and orange males.
Labeotropheus fuelleborni "OB": an "orange-blotched" fish with an orangish background and black, blue, and white spangles ("calico").
4) A less aggressive community (no losses of fish are expected):
Labidochromis caeruleus: Colors range from spectacular solid yellow, through white, to black bars on a blue background. However, it is likely that these color morphs actually represent separate undescribed species.
Iodotropheus sprengerae: this fish is variable in color (most are quite plain) but nice ones have a yellowish-brown background and mauve sides (and are the only predominantly mauve aquarium fish available).
Cynotilapia afra: a blue and black barred fish with a yellow-orange dorsal fin (although other color morphs also exist).
:thumb:
