in the long run... cichlids

[Toam]

Okay, a few months ago I moved my 75 gallon planted into my bedroom, and redid the whole tank. It's now a cichlid tank, with very few plants, but lots of caves. The fish in the tank currently are as follows:

1 cobalt blue zebra male (5")
1 kenyi female (4")
2 yellow labs, 1 male, 1 female (both 4.5")
2 peacocks I still need to identify, one has egg spots on it's anal fin, one does not, so I'm assuming a male and female (4" and 3" respectively)
2 venustus (2.5")
1 unsure, though pics match a mottled red devil, egg spots on his anal fin (2")
1 albino bristlenose pleco (3.5")

I am definitely not planning on keeping the red devil as I have heard of their aggression factor, but how well do you think the others will do? I know the venustus can grow to 10" but there is plenty of room in this tank. I had most of these cichlids in a 35 gallon previously, and when I moved them into the 75 gallon, I added the venustus, devil, and labs, plus one of the peacocks. The aggression level in the tank right now is extremely low, the only bugger really is the assumed red devil. The cobalt blue zebra is the alpha of the tank at the moment. I will have pics later, no batteries for the digicam right now.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Red Devils should not have red spots i don't believe, got any pics for a positive ID?

To me the stock looks pretty good, and i don't think you should have any problems with it in the long run. Only thing i could see is when the venustus grow larger then everyone, aggression might show (even between the 2) so i'd watch that. This all pending the "Red Devil" ID. I would not keep a Red Devil with Malawi cichlids.

 

[Toam]

I cannot get my own pictures up yet, I need to go grab some AA batteries, but this is the picture off of the net. This was titled a "mottled red devil" that looks identical in coloration and shape to the little guy in my tank.

P.S. - my little version doesn't have the forehead lump yet, but he is only just 2". He was listed as a red/red cihclid at my LFS but they cannot help me identify him beyond that, it is possible it's a hybrid, but I do know he looks exactly like the fish in this picture.

 

[Going for broke]

I would guess that you have an ob zebra cichlid. it would have the anal fin markings you speak of and be similar in appearance to the fish above except much smaller.

 

[Going for broke]

here is a picture and description of an ob http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2316

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'd agree with the OB Zebra/peacock/whatever. Red Devils just don't have egg spots...totally different type of breeding thus not needing egg spots.

 

[Toam]

Dayum!
thank you very much guys. I got all freaked out thinking I had a red devil, and never thought to look into the breeding, I had no idea on the egg spotting. That OB zebra does look even more like my fish than the mottled devil pic, thank you very much for the assistance. Once again, this site has helped my arse out

edit:btw, does this mean that the egg markings do not define a female? so I could quite possible have a female? it looks identical to that link going for broke gave me.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Dayum!
thank you very much guys. I got all freaked out thinking I had a red devil, and never thought to look into the breeding, I had no idea on the egg spotting. That OB zebra does look even more like my fish than the mottled devil pic, thank you very much for the assistance. Once again, this site has helped my arse out

edit:btw, does this mean that the egg markings do not define a female? so I could quite possible have a female? it looks identical to that link going for broke gave me.

Usually in a perfect world only males, or at least some males of certain species would have egg spots. However some females might display at least 1, so its hard to sex by egg spots.