New here but not new to fish

hi Nanette,

Welcome to the world of african cichlids!

Also I'd like to add that I'm by no means an expert.

There are lots of cichlid-sites out there but I'd recommend the following
web site as a decent source of information (which also features a chat
room):

www.cichlid-forum.com

Not sure what your unidentified fish are, as there are a lot cichlids with
verticle striping, but I'm not familiar with one that meets your
description. On the site I just mentioned there is a profile section which
lists all a great deal of species with pictures..although it's not set up in
"gallery format" so you'll have to know the name of the fish you're looking
for. You might want to see if your fish resembles any one of these:
pseudotropheus demasoni, pseudotropheus elongatus, pseudotropheus,
cynotilapia afra, labidochromis hongi, labidochromis mbamba for starters.

The labidochromis are generally laid back when compared to other mbuna. Did
you get the blue morph at Petsmart? I've never seen one sold at any of the
pet chain stores or local fish stores in my area.

Yours are probably juveniles right now, but the auratus can be an aggressive
fish and will likely end up dominating the tank...and if they are both males
you might end up losing one in a tank that size due to violence.

Due to the general aggressive/territorial nature of many african cichlids,
underpopulating them may not be a good idea as it presents a greater
opportunity for dominant fish to target specific fish.

For example in under populated conditions, fish A might focus all of its
aggression against fish B and eventually stress it out or kill it.

But in with a little more fish, fish A will might chase or threaten fish B,
C, D and E, and have dominance competion with fish F and G...but not be able
to focus on one particular one, thus spreading the aggression.

Tank size and fish species are also factors. Some fish demand larger
territories...it might wreak havoc on its tank mates in a 29-gallon, but
behave moderately in a 75-gallon. Also some fish are particularly extremely
aggressive with there own kind while ignoring other species. You don't have
to "overstock", but if you are able to sex your fish, some say a sex ratio
of 1 male per 3 females is a good balance.

Adding new fish to the tank may require a little caution as well, as it
appears all the fish know who the "new guys" are.

When I kept tropical community fish (live bearers) I could pretty much add
new fish with ease. Introducing new cichlids to an established tank can have
different results.

I tend to add new fish at night in the darkness so that their introduction
to the tank isn't detected. I've found that adding a new fish during the day
and in "plain view" will attract the attention of most of the fish...and
brings out the mean side even among my most docile fish. No fish wants to
lose their spot in the hierarchy ladder, it seems.

kay-bee