Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi Everyone,

I've been patiently waiting for my pet to fully mature before seeking your expertise in identifying it. My pet has grown into a stunning Mbuna, and I'm eager to introduce more of its kind to my collection. After a year of searching, I've had no luck finding an exact match. The closest I've come is the Metriclima family, but I believe there are too many notable differences for it to belong to that group. I'm hoping someone here can provide a definitive identification. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

By the way, if there's anyone in the Northern Virginia area who's interested in adopting some Kenyi Fry, please send me a message. I have 25 of them in need of a good home.

Based on the images provided, particularly pic #2 and #3, I'm inclined to believe your Mbuna is a male Cynotilapia afra, also known as a Dogtooth Cichlid. However, I'd love to know more about its behavior - is it quite aggressive, or relatively docile? Additionally, what's its current size, and what size tank are you housing it in?

Big Texx, I appreciate your input on my pet's ID. Based on your observation of pics #2 and #3, I was thinking along the same lines - a male Cynotilapia afra. As for behavior, I'd say my pet is passively aggressive and I've noticed some changes lately.

It's about 5.5 inches now, and I've got it in a 50G tank. The coloring, as I mentioned, is quite similar to a female Kenyi, but the spine and tail have this beautiful fiery rust/auburn hue. Normally, it's pretty shy and hides from the other tank mates, but lately, when I approach the tank, it's become quite pushy, trying to be front and center.

I've done my research, and I'm inclined to agree with you - I think it might be a variant of the Jalo Reef Cynotilapia afra. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

I've been researching other possibilities and I'd like to ask for your thoughts on a couple of other species. I've looked into the Metriaclima pyrsonotos, but the coloring is off and I just can't see my fish fitting into this category. I've also taken a look at the Metriaclima greshakei and while there are some similarities, the differences are still quite stark in my opinion. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these possibilities - am I on the right track or am I still way off?