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Post by brenda on Sept 30, 2008 10:53:13 GMT -5
I was thinking of picking up some aulonocara kandeense kande island "blue orchid". What are your thoughts on these guys? Would this be a good pickup? I don't see a lot of info ot that a lot of people have these...Are they a little more rare?
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Post by Carl on Sept 30, 2008 12:19:44 GMT -5
I myself am not that familiar with these (maybe Jon V, John/8, or Bill may have kept them) What I do know is they are a "middle water to the sand close to rocks" fish. My understanding is that they do not mix with Mbuna such as Labeotropheus OB and similar. This article I foud seems to be a little more in depth than the usual generic articles about these cichlids: www.cichlidae.com/gallery/species.php?s=415Carl
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Post by goldenpuon on Sept 30, 2008 14:57:26 GMT -5
Sorry, not a clue. Wish I knew more. Am not a cichlid person. lol
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Post by bikeguy33 on Sept 30, 2008 19:43:31 GMT -5
I have actually kept them. i found them very hardy...and not rare....at least around here. i kept them with mbuna....but the tank was large and everyone had their own lil area. this may go against the research....but it worked here. btw...they have loads of personality.
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Post by Carl on Sept 30, 2008 20:06:53 GMT -5
I have actually kept them. i found them very hardy...and not rare....at least around here. i kept them with mbuna....but the tank was large and everyone had their own lil area. this may go against the research....but it worked here. btw...they have loads of personality. Hey experience counts when comes to keeping fish together!!! Carl
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Post by jonv on Sept 30, 2008 22:09:56 GMT -5
I was thinking of picking up some aulonocara kandeense kande island "blue orchid". What are your thoughts on these guys? Would this be a good pickup? I don't see a lot of info ot that a lot of people have these...Are they a little more rare? I can't vouch on the rarity end, but I find most peacocks in general are nice to keep because they have a different body shape then typical Mbuna or even Haps, and usually more distinct and striking color patterns hence why they get called Peacocks. John (8) I suspect can probably point you to some very nice rare finds out there, and Bill probably knows some really unusual ones as well. My suggestion if you are going rare route, go for Victorians or Madagascars like I have. Madagascars will not have much in the way of looks but I think almost every Madagascar species is either endangered or extinct in their natural habitat and a good number of Victorians are already there or many if they aren't are likely to be within the next 10 years.
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Post by brenda on Sept 30, 2008 22:10:50 GMT -5
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Post by brenda on Sept 30, 2008 22:15:23 GMT -5
I was thinking of picking up some aulonocara kandeense kande island "blue orchid". What are your thoughts on these guys? Would this be a good pickup? I don't see a lot of info ot that a lot of people have these...Are they a little more rare? I can't vouch on the rarity end, but I find most peacocks in general are nice to keep because they have a different body shape then typical Mbuna or even Haps, and usually more distinct and striking color patterns hence why they get called Peacocks. John (8) I suspect can probably point you to some very nice rare finds out there, and Bill probably knows some really unusual ones as well. My suggestion if you are going rare route, go for Victorians or Madagascars like I have. Madagascars will not have much in the way of looks but I think almost every Madagascar species is either endangered or extinct in their natural habitat and a good number of Victorians are already there or many if they aren't are likely to be within the next 10 years. Maybe you guys could look on this link for me and tell me what you would get...Just so I can get some ideas. www.davesfish.com/I will also be moving out more fish. I am going to get rid of my loaches and a few others. It takes me a while to get exactly what I want. I really think I am almost there!!!
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Post by jonv on Sept 30, 2008 22:32:54 GMT -5
I've seen a good number of these up for sale on aquabid lately, if you navigate into the home page, looking under Other under the African cichlids listing as well as Westerns. Prices look a little steep compared to aquabid but with that guy at least you know it's comming from a store so shipping probably is less something to worry about then a seller on AB. Call me crazy but the one that interests me the most on there: www.safhl.net/davesfish/images/Ptychochromis%20grandidieri%20East%20Coast%20Gold.jpgFrom what I understand, this is a mouth brooding Tilapia. Not too bad looking either for a Madagascar.
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Post by brenda on Oct 1, 2008 9:04:35 GMT -5
Those look very cool Jon....Are you going to get some?
I know his prices are a little more but I have also heard nothing but rave reviews on the quality of his fish and service. I guess I'd rather go with him and know he knows what he's doing.
Any other suggestions for something to get from him?
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 1, 2008 9:31:37 GMT -5
I have some of these, the males are beautiful. The females are just gray with the black spots you see on the male. I currently have about 25 fry from one of my 6 females. They hold quite a while and the fry are large when the mother spits them. They grow quickly too. Here is a pic of my male. I have not kept that particular species of aulonocara, I am sorry, I can't help on those. Jon and the others have more info than I. From the picture of the male in an aquarium vs in the wild, I would go with the otopharynx. It seems much more colorful in a tank. John
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Post by brenda on Oct 1, 2008 9:48:27 GMT -5
I think when I order my flamebacks I am going to go with another rare lake victorian cichlid...Paralabidochromis Chromgynos "Zue Island" The only bad thing with the flamebacks is they are unsexed...I really only want a male but oh well. I am going to order 4 and hope I get a male.
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Post by jonv on Oct 1, 2008 10:02:05 GMT -5
In the Aulonocara's I think the Baenschi's and Sunshines are probably more popular. When I looked over the group on CF, my impression was that there seems to be two distinct color patterns emerged out of that species, a nice bright Yellow look and a Red one, which I find just as well in the Protomelas's. The Baenschi's I've found to be rather sensative to stress, and most of mine were all wiped out by the stress of being with Mbuna, even in a 75 gallon tank. I'd have to say based on my limited keeping of that group, probably best in a species only tank. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) though and find some that haven't had these issues.
I believe if you look on AB Brenda, you'll find a good group of those Flamebacks up for auctions on there. I can't say that in all my times in eBay or AB now, nor CF tradepost or Craigslist, that I've gotten any bad deals. I've had maybe a total of 3 fish die in transit on me out of all the fish I've had come in and the real funny thing about that, the guy lilduce21 on eBay, felt so bad, not only did he replace them with the Albino TR's that I have now, he threw in the Venustus Trio which turned out to be a blessing to me.
All in all, you do take a chance on auctions, this is true, but taking a little time to look over the posted feedback of someone selling something you are interested in is worth it. I find people that have triple digit feedbacks and mostly all positive ones, and not all just from one buyer are worthy enough to take a shot on. My thoughts are that anyone doing funky business on sites like this are going to have reports telling and warning off others and probably wouldn't last long enough to get a positive feedback built up.
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