Tanganyikan photos

karma_llama

karma_llama

Large Fish
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Jun 28, 2003
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Tanganyikan photos and advice on ocellatus

Had my new tang tank up and running for about a month now and thought it time to take a few more photos.

This is (obviously) one of my leleupi, the more dominant one who insists that the other mustn't stray over his side of the tank, leading me to beleive they are both males :( Anyway here he is patrolling his rock pile!


Next up in one of my largest gold ocellatus chilling out on his shell. Apologises about the algae problem, i inherited it with the second hand tank and it bloomed while i was on holiday last week :( but fear not a UV steriliser is on it's way in the post as we speak. (note the two blue occies hangin' out in the background)


Lastly is one of my blue ocellatus. I wondered if anyone can clarify that this is infact a blue isanga ocellatus as several of the other shellies look very similar (notable speciosus, meleagris and boulengeri).
 

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karma_llama

karma_llama

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Jun 28, 2003
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thanks fish friend and fishfloater.
The camera is just a point and shoot Nikon Coolpix 3200, a great little camera, highly recommended.

I've spent some more time today just staring at these fish and then looking at photos of ocellatus on the internet and i am starting to believe that my 'gold' and not completely 'gold', well not all of them. The smallest of all the occies resembles the gold ocellatus on all the websites, ie bright gold colour, little spotting on the fins etc slight blue sheen. However my two other 'golds' (one in photo above) have patches of darker blueish areas, and noticably well organised spots on the dorsal and caudal fins.
Do you think they could be a gold/blue hybrid?

Also i've read that to sex these fish you look at the colour that runs along the dorsal fin edge, white for the girlies and gold for the lads.....with the exception of one, all mine are black edged! Two that i believe are male and female have the gold and white edge respectively but have a black strip almost over the top of it. With one of the blues only presenting with a black edge!
Is this normal? What sex fish do i have? And are these really blue and gold ocellatus?

I'm probably being paranoid but i wondered if those out there with tang experience have any good advice to set my mind at rest.

Thanks.
 

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NoDeltaH2O

NoDeltaH2O

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Feb 17, 2005
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I agree that the algae makes it look natural. I think if fish could have it their way, our tanks would be full of the stuff. Fortunately, they don;t have it their way, they have it our way or the septicway.

Man, all of you cichlid people are really making it hard on me. I've been wanting to get into cichlids, but have just not had the opportunity yet.

Bide your time Monty...
 

karma_llama

karma_llama

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Jun 28, 2003
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It's only a certain number of cichlids from lake tanganyika that have adopted this behaviour of inhabiting shells. The most interesting thing i have noted is that my shell dwellers have chosen the smallest shells available, even if it means its a tight fit, they arent interesetd in the larger more roomy shells, must be a feeling safe thing!
 

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