Hi Guy,
Feeling a little nostalgic about my years keeping and breeding mbunas (then I moved to another country and I’m not setting up big tanks).
I was thinking that among my favorite of all time are:
Melanochromis auratus: it’s a super classic, and people look down at them because of the high level of aggressiveness. Let me tell you one thing, when they’re babies are absolutely adorable and as soon as they get out of mum’s mouth super colorful, little stripy microfish. And parental care of the mum is just amazing.
And when the male mature it’s so fascinating, he gets dark in all senses. Not just aggressive, a killer. At least of the other weaker males in the tank. I’ve seen an auratus male keeping the biggest cave of a 100gallons tank fighting against cichlids TWICE his size!
And the female and youngs color are nice yellow black and white striped.
The other favorite is Labeotropheus spp., affectionately called “big nose” for his unique shape. And beautiful blue body colour too.
Color wise, of course there are loads brighter and bluer, but as uniqueness and personality wise those ones are the best fish I’ve kept in 20 years in the hobby.
Feeling a little nostalgic about my years keeping and breeding mbunas (then I moved to another country and I’m not setting up big tanks).
I was thinking that among my favorite of all time are:
Melanochromis auratus: it’s a super classic, and people look down at them because of the high level of aggressiveness. Let me tell you one thing, when they’re babies are absolutely adorable and as soon as they get out of mum’s mouth super colorful, little stripy microfish. And parental care of the mum is just amazing.
And when the male mature it’s so fascinating, he gets dark in all senses. Not just aggressive, a killer. At least of the other weaker males in the tank. I’ve seen an auratus male keeping the biggest cave of a 100gallons tank fighting against cichlids TWICE his size!
And the female and youngs color are nice yellow black and white striped.
The other favorite is Labeotropheus spp., affectionately called “big nose” for his unique shape. And beautiful blue body colour too.
Color wise, of course there are loads brighter and bluer, but as uniqueness and personality wise those ones are the best fish I’ve kept in 20 years in the hobby.
