[Heken]

I’m new to all this and have rescued a cichlid from been left to just die, he I think as if I show him a photo of a female that I think is the same species goes so bright a shimmy’s with his tail shaking and following the photo on my phone.
I don’t know what he is and was hoping someone could help me to identify him .

 

[DJRansome]

Looks to me like Melanochromis auratus, but I am not the best at ID. VERY aggressive Lake Malawi mbuna cichlid. I would probably rehome or keep him in a tank by himself.

 

[Heken]

Looks to me like Melanochromis auratus, but I am not the best at ID. VERY aggressive Lake Malawi mbuna cichlid. I would probably rehome or keep him in a tank by himself.

Thankyou, I thought that’s what he might be, he is actually so lovely and really funny, will definitely keep him on his own as I wouldn’t know what to keep him with, I was told a catfish or another aggressive malawi but not of similar colour, maybe a butterfly but I’m not sure he would accept it as he has lived alone for the best part of 3 years. Do you think
It is a he?

 

[DJRansome]

Auratus can be kept in large groups of females with a single male in very large tanks. Some say 72" is best. I would not add a single tank mate. It sounds like a male since it turned bright colors when shown a pic of another auratus, but the only way to be sure is to vent the fish. Does it matter?

 

[james1983]

Looks partly melanochromis, the mouth looks off. Kinda like a labeotropheus.

 

[ken31cay]

Looks partly melanochromis, the mouth looks off. Kinda like a labeotropheus.

Agreed. I'm no expert but imo It's not a purebred of either so maybe a hybrid.

 

[Heken]

labeotropheus.

I guess I’ll never know what he is exactly but he is so lovely I’m keeping him anyway, just a shame he has to live alone.
Thankyou for your help

Agreed. I'm no expert but imo It's not a purebred of either so maybe a hybrid.

 

[Heken]

I guess I’ll never know what he is exactly but he is so lovely I’m keeping him anyway, just a shame he has to live alone.
Thankyou for your help

That’s what I thought, so he is 3 and half years old now so hopefully he will have the next 3 years or more in a happy tank with a lot of people watching .

 

[DJRansome]

Average is 8 years, so maybe 5 more.