Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => Old World => Topic started by: lilscoots on September 08, 2014, 06:46:42 PM

Title: Protomelas Taiwan reef coloration?
Post by: lilscoots on September 08, 2014, 06:46:42 PM

Do male taiwan reef usually display their stripes unless they're actively displaying or do the strips fade as they age so their sides are basically solid yellow?  I'm trying to decide between Proto. tangerine tiger and Proto. taiwan reef.   And I prefer the taiwan reef in their early coloration with the strips but prefer the stiping pattern of the tangerine tiger to that of the taiwan reef in breeding dress (no stripes).  So I was hoping that if they're just cruising and not actively attempting to spawn that the taiwan reefs still display the striping pattern?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Protomelas Taiwan reef coloration?
Post by: Ron on September 10, 2014, 10:01:31 AM

They don't lose their stripes as they mature. They'll lose them when they are showing off or feeling good.

If it's dominant in the tank, you'll probably see the stripes missing more often than you would see them present.

If it's not near the top of the pecking order, you'll probably see the stripes often and it'll still color up somewhat.

With regards to the tangerine tigers, I've seen some that I think look great and some that IMO look quite poor. The difference between the two is the barring. I'm not 100% sure what is consider proper vs not proper, but the ones with 'Y' barring strike me as not proper, not to mention they just don't look as good.