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[Alton]

Hi everyone, My name is Alton and I have had African Chiclids for almost 4 years now. I Have had Aquariums off and on for 20 years. I got into chiclids in a very big way, 14 Tanks running now, LOL!! I am gearing up to raise some of the uncommon species and still trying to get some of them in. But here is what I have now:

Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Red Shoulder"
Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Ruby Reds"
Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Masinje
Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type North (Nkhata Bay Yellow Head)
Aulonocara Ethelwynnae Chitande

My Wish list:

Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Kande
Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Nkhomo
Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Mozambique
Copadichromis Virginalis Fire Crest
Copadichromis Virginalis Gold Blaze

Any help with finding these guys will be greatly appreciated. The last 2 I am sure I will be getting very soon. But the top 3 are the ones I really want.

Thanks and looking forward to learning from everyone.

[SergeS]

Welcome

I see you like "Chitande type" Peackocks Good choice, I used to have A. ethelwynnae myself. Had to sell them as they could not hold their own in my tank, but if I ever have room for more tanks, like you, I'm sure I'll keep them or a similar species again. Very nice fish indeed! And they're small, which makes it a lot easier to keep them

Recently. there have been some new imports in Europe of C. virginalis, you should indeed be able to find these guys (also in the US I assume). Aren't the two that you mention the same fish?

Anyway, the Chitande's are probably not easy to obtain, but if you do: make sure to post some pictures Good luck in tracking them down!

[Alton]

Thanks Serges, The two Copadichromis Virginalis species are different. The Gold Blaze has a yellowish/Gold Blaze across the top of the head and Dorsal fin while the Fire Crest has red in the Dorsal fin. It reminds me of flames on some of the males I have seen. Both of those I do have first dibs on and hoping to have confirmation this friday they are on the way. I will definately post some pics of them.

As for the other Chitande species I will not give up til I have them. One supplier found them as tank raised somewhere but said he was not impressed with their genetics so he did not order them for me. So I have hope I will get them. The Ethelwynnaes are so pretty. Even the females sport colors in their fins. Right now I have 3 strains in them and have had one female hold and swallow the eggs twice. I am hoping she figures it out before I have to strip and tumble the eggs. The Masinje's I do have 48 juvies growing out from wild caught parents. They were breeding like mad and without notice the male died on me. I do have 2 males and 2 female wild caughts coming in 2 weeks. So I am hoping to have more fry coming on these guys again. So farI have noticed they are very mellow guys and love to play in the tank. Only aggression I have noticed is from the males during spawns. Then they hate themselves I think, Hee Hee.

I will give a try on posting some pics later today.

[Alton]

First attempt at loading some pics. Hope they turn out
Aul. Sp. Chitande North Juvie Male

Juvie Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type North Nkhata Bay (Yellow Head)

Aul. Stuartgranti "Red Shoulder" F1 Male

F1 Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Red Shoulder" Male

Male Aul. Ethelwynnae Chitande

Male Ethelwynnae

Wild Caught Aul. Sp. Chitande Type Masinje Male (He passed away but I did get 48 Fry from him first)

W/C Male Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Masinje

F1 Aul. Sp. Chitande Type Masije Juvie Male (One of my babies)

Aul. Sp. Chitande Type Masinje Juvie Male

Red Frontosa, Got this guy 3 years ago before I found out they were undesirable. But I like him so he will have a home til he passes.

Red Frontosa