Electric Blue Johanni vs. Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos ID

[Hobbiest]

I am trying to find out about the difference between the electric blue johanni and Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos. It is said that electric blue johanni females are orange. Also it os said that Cyaneorhabdos females look like males and remain blue. If that is all true when do Johanni females change color? Because at the LFS they are being sold as Johanni's and all are still blue.

[Regalblue]

M. cyaneorhabdos IS called the Electric Blue Johanni. 
Which causes SOOO much confusion


M. johanni start out as being yellow & then the males turn blue. 

[Hobbiest]

Now I am confused. I was told that M. Johanni and M. Cyaneorhabdos are different species. I was told that M. Johanni females turn orange, and that M. Cyaneorhabdos females reamin blue like the males. Also some say Cyaneorhabdos are not as aggresive as Johanni.
So my lfs (pet supplies plus) has some listed as M. Johanni. All of them are blue.
I want to own M. Cyaneorhandos Maingano because of temperament and for the blue females.
I have seen some called Maingano at auctions but how do you really know?
The Oyers had them years ago. So I would have trusted them.
I don't dislike Melanochromis Johanni but the fish I want is M. Cyaneorhabdos.

[Hobbiest]

Apparently it goes like this. Dominant male Johanni are more black. Dominant male Cyaneorhabdos are more blue. Females are definitely orange for Johanni although I have yet to find if they are always orange or when they turn.
I guess I am wondering what are the chances that the lfs that has the. Marked as Johanni might actually be Cyaneorhabdos. I would think not but I don't see any orange in there. So maybe they are all males or maybe they female had not colored up yet.

[Regalblue]

M. johanni are not sold as Electric blue johanni & are not as readily available as cyaneorhabdos.   True johanni start out as yellow.  The females don't turn yellow,  the males turn blue.  So you most likely have cyaneorhabdos

[Hobbiest]

Well thanks. I went to lfs and purchased M. Elec Blue johanni as was labeled. Per your info that M. Cyaneorhabdos is more available and because all of the 12 Melanochromis in the tank were blue I bought 5 and put them in a newly set up tank. I may go and get more. My hope is that the fish store doesn't know crap and that these are Cyaneorhabdos. It is a chain store. But just the fact they are all blue should be a good sign unless they are all males. They are ranging from 1.5"-2".

[Regalblue]

I'd suggest getting 5 more.  Melanochromis do best in groups of 8+.

[jred]

Ya I had this same confusion when I purchased my maingano, it's totally a labeling issue by LFS and there is technically no such thing as the EB johanni. Sounds like your store has maingano given they are so small and blue/black. I agree about buying a group of 8+, my initial group was 8 and my ratio turned out to be 6M:2F... males tend to be dark and females have lighter belly. Even then though I have had sub males looks like females. Good luck!

[Hobbiest]

I have 16 of them now. Thank you all for the information. Happy owner of Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos!

[Regalblue]

Cool!

[kodyboy]

Combine them with a bunch of yellow labs for a cool color combo:)