My name is David, I purchased 2 African Cichlids from my local pet store and I need some help with ID. I would like to get some advice on how to make them as happy as possiable in their current 75g tank. These fish were in a tank in the back of the store and had been there for about 11 months. The tank was really dark so I was unsure what the fish looked like till I got them home and under the LED. The store owner said the fish were a mated pair and was given to the store by somene who was getting out of the hobby. The fish never mated in the store but the tank they were kept in was less then ideal, there was no gravel nor hiding places, and there were 4 other fish in the tank that were not Cichlids.
I added the fish to a 75 gallon that has been running for 2 months with 5 smaller cichlids in the tank (all african). I have the PH at 7.8, KH of 280, GH of 180, and 0 no2 0 no3. PH was obtained by Baking soda, and the water does have 1 tablespoon of salt per 10 gallons. I was shocked at the color of these fish when i added them never seeing a purple cichlid. Both are purple but the male has a yellow bottom but is purple on the top and that gets lighter or darker depending on the mood of the fish.
I have been very careful with the light, turning on my normal lights a few minutes before switch the blue night light to regural light. Will the light bother them after being in the dark for the last 11 months?
As for behavor both fish are approx 5 inches long (i assume full grown). Also I will add this just for the interest factor. I bought the solid purple on Thursday (i could tell the solid one was really a good looking fish in the dark) and figured the male was one of the rust colored fish. The female stayed hidden the entire time. I decided to go back Saturday and buy the male just to give the purple one some company. Once I added the male he was of course very stressed and swam under a large rock and sat there. The purple one came out and scared off all the smaller fish from the male and basically was protecting him till his stress passed. Just something neat I figured I would add if someone is interested in behavior as I had never observed this type of behavior before and being a keeper of cichlids for many years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4WoC7y5N78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-oekY46tA
Male Photo's (i think this is the male but could be wrong)
Female Photos (again assuming this is female from the facial fetures and not having the hump near the eyes)
