Rusty cichlid?

[dixaisy930]

Today I saw the prettiest cichlid...the label said rusty sprengerae. What can you tell me about this guy? And I've read they are a not-that-aggressive cichlid. Is it not-that-aggressive enough to be a community fish? thanks

 

[wrs]

it is only peaceful by Mbuna standards.

 

[sylvia]

Well they aren't community fish. The scientific name is iodotropheus sprengerae and their color is unique amongst mbuna. They are about as aggressive as yellow labs and get to about 4". They are best kept in a group with one male and several females but they are relatively peaceful towards each other anyway. Sexing them can be a little difficult with younger fish as the sexes look alike. They can be bullied by more aggressive cichlids so should only be kept with the more 'peaceful' species. The don't dig quite like other mbuna and they are herbivorous (unlike yellow labs for example). That's about all I can think of to say about them . They are very nice fish over-all and in the right set-up, are excellent tank-mates for the less aggressive mbuna species.

 

[freddyk]

That's about it, though they're actually omnivorous, not strictly herbivorous. They can still be quite aggressive among their own, I had one male that was downright nasty to his harem, but he would not stand up to any other tankmates.

 

[vantgE]

you can find a short article on them in the fiash index

 

[dixaisy930]

Ok, thanks for the help.

Are there any African cichlids (are kribs african?) that could go in with mollies, kuhlis, etc.?

What could be good tank mates for iodotropheus sprengerae? And what would be a good tank size for an average african community?

Also, I saw a very pretty grey-ish blue cichlid with bright yellow fins. I saw a picture of a copadichromis borleyi, and I'm sure that's what that fish is. What can you tell me about that fish? Could that be tankmate for iodotropheus sprengerae, or maybe even a community fish? Thank you for all of your help.

 

[freddyk]

For an African Malawi community I recommend a 36" long tank as a minimum because if their aggression, and size. Sprengerae go well with Lab. Caeruleus (electric yellow) many peacocks (Aulonocara) and even the Boreyi, which is actually a hap and not an mbuna. No African fish from lake Malawi can be kept with community fish.

Kribs can be kept with many community fish though, they're from the rivers of Africa, and are actually more like new world fish then any Rift Lake Africans.

 

[tank212]

i have a rusty by himself and he gets really hyper when i drop the food in there he doesnt let any of the others push him around hes my favorite fish i got yellow lab with him 2 peacocks albino zebra lab fulleborni a butterfly peacock a clown pleco a synodontis cat a clown loach and all of them seem to get along really well i hope this givesy ou some ideas good luck

 

[sylvia]

p. acei, p. socolofi and p. saulosi also do well with both rusty cichlids and yellow labs. P. acei is purple-ish with yellow fins BTW - looks stunning with labs.

 

[tank212]

i think peacocks would look real pretty if youre going for color p acei i dont know if its just me or ive encountered bad ones but i dont think they look that great no offense but i think they look like a fish lure sorry if i hurt any ones feelings

 

[modernhamlet]

Rusties are the one fish I wanted when stocking my 75g that my fish supplier did not have. sylvia and freddyk, among others, covered most of the basic info. I just wanted to add that I agree; they're really beautiful.