I just picked up my new cichlids to go in my 40 gallon tank. They are all about 1.75" . I need some help figuring out which ones I have. I know that two of them look like venestus species.. but I'm not sure. They have these orange spots all over their tails, and each one has a different 'pattern' other than the typical snakeskin looking pattern.

Anyway, I'll let you guys help me figure it out!

















If you can figure out those cichlids, just let me know. I'd love to know what kind of cichlids I have so I can research them. Thanks!

- Zac

And one other picture I managed to take.

You'll have to forgive the poor picture quality. I'm not sure it's even enough to identify. The camera I have doesn't take moving shots AT ALL.

I can definately make out an Acei amongst those.

Wow...what ever they are! They're pretty! :o

I think the first picture is a red zebra. And the second might be a Ruby Green cichlid.

I can't ID them all but the one in pic 1 looks to me to be a 'Red Zebra' (tend to be very aggressive in my experience once they obtain some maturity).
The Brown/White looking fish in picture 3 I'm certain is a 'N.Livingstonii' (closely related to venustus though colouration differs. They can grow quite large, I used to have a male that was around 10 inches and fairly stocky). Other fish in that pic looks like a OB zebra to me.

Distant fish in pic 2, fish in pic 4, 7, 8 looks peacock in shape but not sure specific varient.

looks like you might have some peacoks there. Btw I think that green leopard looking one is Nimbochromis venustus. some people say they are hybrids I have 2 small ones I think they are beautiful.

I think you guys are right about the Nimbochromis venustus and the 'N.Livingstonii'. I'm pretty sure the yellow fish in the first picture is a zebra. I think the orange and black one is an orange blotched zebra. Not sure of the scientific name.

Venustus is a lot "yellower" generally (yellow/blue opposed to brown/white), looks livingstonii for sure in my opinion, one of my mates breeds a lot of them (can see a few of his in pics on my forum). If male you'll find it will turn very, very blue in colour as it matures and loose much of the blotchy patten, if female it will retain that pattern.

Thanks guys. I'd love to breed them if I can find a pair. They are doing great and the senegal bichir is having a blast with his new tankmates. They haven't bothered him in the least bit. It's a very interesting tank now. I never realized I liked cichlids until you have more than one of them in a tank. I think that was the selling point. One is fun and all, but it's not near as interesting as having a tank full of them.

So peacocks, n.livingstonii, n.venestus?

So I think I've figured out what kind some of them are.. Let me know if you think otherwise or you think you know what the others might be.

The orange one with black spots could be an Orange Blotched Cichlid. Not sure on the scientific name.

From looking at pictures, I think I've narrowed it down to the following for most of the cichlids in the tank...

Nimbochromis venustus
Nimbochromis livingstonii
Aulonocara maisoni
Aulonocara stuartgranti
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
Psuedotropheus acei

Cute little buggers! Nice colors too.

Thanks! I wanted a wide assortment of colors. It's very interesting, to say the least. They are all getting along great!

Pseudotropheus zebra ("OB" morph).

The one you are thinking is venustus is the one i was saying is livingstonii. That's what I meant by the yellow/blue vs. brown/white. It's more likely you'd have one or the other but probally not both (i'd vote livingstonii going by the colour rather then venustus).

here's a couple of my mates. You can see in the pic how blue the male is (it's a big change from male's juvi colouration which is pretty cool to see as they grow)..

I'd have to agree with fnesr and say the fish is a livingstonii.
Here's one of my juvi livingstonii. for reference.

Livingstonii, no doubt about that. I remember keeping a venestus and he had a very blue face. This one doesn't have that feature. Very interesting fish from what I am reading though. Their hunting patterns and what not. Makes me want to put cichlid sand in my tank and buy a bunch of feeder guppies hahaha. Of course, that's just theory. I haven't ever fed my fish live fish. :blink: :lol: