Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => Old World => Topic started by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 01:38:04 PM

Title: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 01:38:04 PM
Another post got me thinking about this fish...

I have a Placidochromis Phenochilus in my 140 gallon... but it isnt showing any of the colorations that I see in pictures, not yet at least.  And, it seems to be growing VERY slowly. 

Slow growth common with these?

Is the picture I have attached here a common coloration, or one of those perfect specimen kind of things?

Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 01:42:18 PM
I love blue fish... so this one is right up my ally.  I just want mine to grow!!!!  All the others are passing it up.


Do females get this color too?
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 22, 2013, 02:02:34 PM
Yes, the are slow growers and typically don't start showing the white spots from my expirence until they get north of 4" to 5".  The females stay a grayish color.  Attached is a picture of one of my breeder males, he is about 6" and is just now showing more of the white specs as they mature.  This picture is from five or six months ago.

Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 02:05:33 PM
Your picture in the other thread got me thinking.  I hope mine will look like yours!

I just want mine to be more blue and get some more shades.  Its just a dark blue, blah color right now.  But, its about 2" long... at the MOST.

I sure hope its not a female or I am getting another one!
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 22, 2013, 02:26:29 PM
It will start to so some signs if it is a male probably around 2.5 or 3".  Where did you get your from?
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 02:34:03 PM
It will start to so some signs if it is a male probably around 2.5 or 3".  Where did you get your from?

Preuss.  They had about 6 of them around Christmas time I think it was.  I havent seen any since.  But, I dont make it to Preuss all that often.

I put it in my larger tank in the hopes that it would encourage faster growth.  I was about to take it out because it was getting picked on.  Then all of a sudden, the bullying stopped and it fits in great in the tank.  But, I always keep an eye on it.  Seems to be more on the passive side of the Africans.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 22, 2013, 02:45:46 PM
It will start to so some signs if it is a male probably around 2.5 or 3".  Where did you get your from?

Preuss.  They had about 6 of them around Christmas time I think it was.  I havent seen any since.  But, I dont make it to Preuss all that often.

I put it in my larger tank in the hopes that it would encourage faster growth.  I was about to take it out because it was getting picked on.  Then all of a sudden, the bullying stopped and it fits in great in the tank.  But, I always keep an eye on it.  Seems to be more on the passive side of the Africans.


Cool, yes they are pretty passive.  I have two males and eight females in a 125 gallon and the two males usually co-exist without any issues.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 22, 2013, 02:51:43 PM
I bet that is one nice looking tank!!! 

Mind taking a picture of them all as a group?


Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 22, 2013, 03:58:51 PM
I bet that is one nice looking tank!!! 

Mind taking a picture of them all as a group?




No problem.  I will take some when I am home tomorrow.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: theoryguru on March 23, 2013, 07:01:39 PM
Beauties.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 25, 2013, 09:56:40 PM
Here are some updated pics I took of my breeding group the other day.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 25, 2013, 09:58:00 PM
Additional pic.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: theoryguru on March 25, 2013, 10:35:19 PM
Awesome group!
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 25, 2013, 10:48:58 PM
Awesome group!

Thanks.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: linuxrulesusa on March 25, 2013, 11:11:06 PM
Really like those blues!
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 25, 2013, 11:14:38 PM
Really like those blues!

Thanks Dan.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: Nick on March 25, 2013, 11:19:52 PM
Here is one I had a while ago. Hes a bit beat up at the time but you get the idea.

(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd394/nwr2339/DSC00340.jpg)
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 26, 2013, 06:54:57 AM
This last picture you posted... is it a younger one?  I see the stripes.  Mine has those very visible, but is still very dark.

Cant wait for some color... please be a male!!!
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: Regalblue on March 26, 2013, 02:30:52 PM
I have a question.....  Does the Mdoka collection point still get the white spots?
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 26, 2013, 03:43:22 PM
This last picture you posted... is it a younger one?  I see the stripes.  Mine has those very visible, but is still very dark.

Cant wait for some color... please be a male!!!


The one with the stripes in the last picture is a female.  They stay a grayish color and show some stripes.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 26, 2013, 03:44:11 PM
This last picture you posted... is it a younger one?  I see the stripes.  Mine has those very visible, but is still very dark.

Cant wait for some color... please be a male!!!


The one with the stripes in the last picture is a female.  They stay a grayish color and show some stripes.

Uh oh.
 :o
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 26, 2013, 03:46:07 PM
I have a question.....  Does the Mdoka collection point still get the white spots?

The ones from Mdoka are supposed to stay mostly all blue and only get white lips from what I understand.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: Regalblue on March 26, 2013, 03:50:56 PM
I have a question.....  Does the Mdoka collection point still get the white spots?

The ones from Mdoka are supposed to stay mostly all blue and only get white lips from what I understand.
OK Thanks, I thought that was the case.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 26, 2013, 03:52:03 PM
This last picture you posted... is it a younger one?  I see the stripes.  Mine has those very visible, but is still very dark.

Cant wait for some color... please be a male!!!


The one with the stripes in the last picture is a female.  They stay a grayish color and show some stripes.

Do males have stripes that come and go when they are little also?
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: CptSpaulding on March 26, 2013, 07:46:33 PM
I have a question.....  Does the Mdoka collection point still get the white spots?

The ones from Mdoka are supposed to stay mostly all blue and only get white lips from what I understand.

That is correct. The Mdoka do not get any spangling. The F0 Mdoka is a striking blue. The females stay much more blue unlike the Tanzanians.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on March 26, 2013, 10:21:58 PM
This last picture you posted... is it a younger one?  I see the stripes.  Mine has those very visible, but is still very dark.

Cant wait for some color... please be a male!!!


The one with the stripes in the last picture is a female.  They stay a grayish color and show some stripes.

Do males have stripes that come and go when they are little also?

They all are grey and have stripes when they are small.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 26, 2013, 10:38:16 PM
There is still hope!!!
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on May 21, 2013, 08:56:02 AM
OK... I ended up taking mine out of the 140 gallon.  I think it is a little too passive for this tank.  Would notice some bite marks and as soon as they healed... another would show up.

So, we put it in with out Albus.  I sure hope there isnt an issue, because it will come out if there is.

I must say... it sure ate much more vigorously with the Albus.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on May 21, 2013, 10:01:09 AM
OK... I ended up taking mine out of the 140 gallon.  I think it is a little too passive for this tank.  Would notice some bite marks and as soon as they healed... another would show up.

So, we put it in with out Albus.  I sure hope there isnt an issue, because it will come out if there is.

I must say... it sure ate much more vigorously with the Albus.

That was probably a good move.  They are very passive from what I can tell as well.  I had my main male getting pushed around by a fish twice as small as him.  That is when I decided they can have the 125 by themselves.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on May 22, 2013, 07:11:08 AM
Thanks again Josh.  Everyone looked happy as of 11:00 last night when the lights went out.   8)
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on May 22, 2013, 08:02:46 AM
Thanks again Josh.  Everyone looked happy as of 11:00 last night when the lights went out.   8)

Glad to hear.  Thanks for stopping by.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: Sean on June 03, 2013, 09:48:10 PM
Love these fish. Just picked up a male yesterday. He is about 3"
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on June 04, 2013, 08:28:08 AM
I have eight of them now.  All juveniles.  Waiting for them to grow to see if I keep them all or not.  I want 1-2 males and 3-4 females.


Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on October 02, 2013, 03:40:59 PM
Not sure what happened, but we are down to 6 of them.  They are doing real good and showing descent color already!

Need to upgrade the lighting on the tank.

Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: four_by_ken on October 15, 2013, 08:53:46 AM
They are growing well.

The dominant male is about 2-3" and showing a lot of blue.  Very happy with that.  I thought we would still have another 6 months before seeing anything.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on October 15, 2013, 04:00:25 PM
Good to hear Ken.  I just sent some phenos to MN today and they were showing some nice color around 2 inches.
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jakubasm1 on November 13, 2013, 11:59:57 AM
Awesome fish.   Gorgeous tank.   What size?
Title: Re: Placidochromis Phenochilus?
Post by: jcunningham0295 on November 13, 2013, 12:23:55 PM
Awesome fish.   Gorgeous tank.   What size?

I have a group of 20 in a 125 gallon.  All males are 8"+.  Females are around 5"+.  I have 1.5" fry sale.