African Cichlids: Names & ID's

Strawberry Peacock

 

 Common Name(s): Strawberry Peacock cichlid, Dragonblood Peacock, fire fish peacock

Type: Aulonocara Hybrid Cichlid

Origin: Hybrid...but origins come from Lake Malawi

Size: 8 inches

Color: Males display bright red, orange and yellow colors when dominate!

Description: This man-made cichlid is very beautiful and can make any African cichlid tank more enjoyable with its popping colors! However, like many African cichlids along with that beauty is a beastly attitude which makes these fish very aggressive! 

 
 


Beautiful Male

 

 

Female

 

 

Dimidiochromis Compressiceps

 Common Name(s): Malawi Eye Biter, Compressicep cichlid

Type: Hap Cichlid

Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa

Size: 10 inches

Color:Females are silver with brown to black horizontal lines shooting across body. Males with turn blue to purple with a orange outline on fins!

Description: The Malawi eye biter is a very interesting fish. These fish are great hunters and and while eat anything small enough to fit in there mouth! Also they have a unique body shape making your aquarium more diverse. 

OB Peacock

Common Name(s): OB Peacock

Type: Hybrid Peacock cichlid

Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa

Size: 6 inches

Color: OB peacocks have a solid orange to white body with blotches of black, orange, purple and others colors covering body! Males tend to have much brighter colors while females are more dull.

Description: This fish is a hybrid peacock meaning that pure peacocks where mixed to produce the OB peacock. With such a mix, amazing colors and variations come from this fish!

OB Peacock Male

OB Peacock Female

White OB peacock

Nimbochromis Venustus

Common Name(s): Venustus Cichlid, Giraffe Hap

Type: Hap Cichlid

Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa

Size: 10 inches

Color:Beautiful greenish yellow body with markings that resemble the markings on a giraffe! Mature males will produce a blue face!

Description: The venustus is simply an awesome hap african cichlids. These fish grow very large compared to other african cichlids, if you keep this fish, be sure to provide a large home!

My Male Venustus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Female

Common Name(s): Yellow Lab cichlid, electric yellow

Type: Mbuna Cichlid

Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa

Size: 6 inches

Color: Bright yellow body, with black "edges" (along top and bottom fins) , males tend to have a stronger/ thicker black!

Description: The yellow lab is an absolutely beautiful fish! These yellow fish are charms to any aquarium bring tons of excitement and activity to your tank! Beware because the are African cichlids and do carry aggressive traits!

Male

My yellow labs getting ready to brawl!