[Aymbar]

So, I have always been a 'fish fanatic', but I have never gotten into Cichlids.
Well, long story short, someone moving into the house brought a tank with fish I know didn't belong together..
He had to cichlids with a goldfish. No heater, and driftwood. (I heard driftwood takes the pH balance down..)
So, the goldfish got moved.
But, now I am building a tank for the Cichlids, because I can't leave them in a 10g tank, they are far too big, and it is just not a suitable place for them to live.
I asked the person who owned them what type they are, and they have no idea.
They replied 'they're fish'..
So, I am at a loss!
I know nothing about these!


Sorry the pictures are of such poor quality, the fish are trapped in a small 10g until I can figure out how to build their new home!

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[Aymbar]

Any and all help would be enjoyed! I have searched and searched for what they could be and I cannot find anything!

 

[Aymbar]

I took another photograph of them.
I put them in the 30gallon tank and their colors went from a dark brown/black to a light tan..
They have brown stripes..
I am really, really curious on what they are, and no one seems to know...

 

[ScarlettAngel]

I'm still fairly new to cichlids myself, I have a South/Central American Cichlid tank. If it helps a guess ( & it really is a guess) is that it is an African Cichlid. There are so many knowledgable fish keepers om here someone must be able to give you an answer.
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[Aymbar]

Well, I had figured they were some sort of African. I just didn't know which kind. And with so many out there, I am trying to figure out what is best for these.
They have drastically changed over the time they've been in their new home. They are no longer a brown color, they've gotten a slight gold tint, with a black colored strip going down from their eye to the base of their tail, with a little dot behind their eyes. They are quite beautiful now.. Before I thought they are plain.
(Sorry, I guess the camera just has poor quality.)

 

[Groovysunflowers]

I doubt that it was your camera's quality, because the change is absolutely noticeable, hard to miss! Even in the bottom picture, he/she just looks happier. I've known lizards to change color with stress, and some species of loaches, so I don't doubt that they lost their luster from being stressed out in such tight corners. I dont know anything about cichlids as far as owning them, but ive found it's common sense for this species to have lots of swimming space, and they're very territorial and can be aggressive. Really shameful the owner of these fish didn't know what they had or what they were doing.. (the reply "I don't know...fish!" really grinds my gears) I hate when I'm at the fish store and I see people deliberately buying aggressive and peacful fish with opposite water parameter needs, just because they're "pretty" or "cool"...I see this happening a lot with cichlids...

I'm glad you took the initiative to try and save these guys Brownie points!

 

[Aymbar]

Thanks I only know about semi-aggressive fish, so the cichlids were a quick change! They seem to be doing better, I might get another smaller one, since the smaller of the two is taking a lot of the pounding the bigger one has to offer. (It's really sad. she/he just hides and is still all dark)
Hopefully the LFS will have this breed..

 

[Groovysunflowers]

Thanks I only know about semi-aggressive fish, so the cichlids were a quick change! They seem to be doing better, I might get another smaller one, since the smaller of the two is taking a lot of the pounding the bigger one has to offer. (It's really sad. she/he just hides and is still all dark)
Hopefully the LFS will have this breed..

Be careful; depending on that species of fish, the smaller might be taking a pounding for good reason. There are certain types of cichlids that are specifically territorial to be single-species inhabitants...Sometimes at the LFS's around here I see a tank full of 30+ cichlids, like the neon colored looking ones, and other times I see big tanks with only one in there, because of the territory complex. I think Oscars and Jack Dempseys fall under the single inhabitant catergory, but don't quote me on it.

 

[ScarlettAngel]

Aymbar, I just spent a minute on Google and found these guys who look very similar........Google image - Orange Blotch Zebra Cichlid.
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[ScarlettAngel]

Forgot to say the difference in these pictures is incredible. It's great to see the change, so glad they now stand the chance of a happy healthy life
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[Aymbar]

From what I was told about the cichlids is that they are around 5 years old, and belonged to the previous owners brothers wife. She passed away, and so the fish loving was gone. He got them, and just.. No, I knew they wouldn't last long that way.. (haha)...

But, I am unsure of them still of the Orange Blotch Zebra Cichlid, because these have more of predominant line down their sides, with slight stripes. I will try to ask the previous owners brother. I would rather know more about them.. Thanks everyone!

& thank you, I think they look a lot better now. I couldn't believe they were so, colorful!

 

[lobibaby]

looks like a rainbow cichlid. latin name Herotilapia multispinosus, i have two of them, they turn dark when stressed or breeding, intense orange to yellow and black striped when content. that's my best guess. they're mild in temperament, eat algae, a really great central american fish.

 

[Aymbar]

Oh..My...God... THANK YOU SO MUCH! They look almost identical to them. You are soo helpful!
The researching begins! Haha!

Many thanks!

 

[lobibaby]

your welcome enjoy them, they are an awesome little cichlid, hard to find.