Looking for male Melanochromis Auratus

[lightaddict08]

Looking for a 3"+ male Auratus. Purchased one from the LFS but it was on the smaller side and now has taken female coloring because the females are larger.

[atmagoulick]

Those are cool, I don't have any.  Is the male a different color?

[lightaddict08]

These guys are really cool. The males will usually have black coloring with yellow horizontal lines while the females have yellow with black lines. When they are first born they all look like females until the males mature and change to the mostly black configuration. I've never actually seen them turn back to yellow though until recently.

[Regalblue]

Check with Ken Lewis /Auratus

[atmagoulick]

Thanks,

They were the "it" fish in the 1980's.  I was thinking to get some also.  They were cool then and are still cool now.  I have seen some black with white lines and fins rather then yellow.

[Sean]

We get them pretty regularly at the store I work at if you're still interested. They're 8.99 a piece. I can check and see of we have any when I'm in there next

[lightaddict08]

I've been checking all the LFS I pass, but I've only seen 1.5-2". If you do find a larger one, I'd appreciate it. 

[Sean]

Yeah, no problem. We get a lot of the yellow ones, but every once in a while we get a few to color up as males. I'll keep an eye out for some bigger males.