Neolamprologus pulcher 'Daffodil'

[Dan_G_Calgary]

EDIT: RENAMED THIS POST. Had the wrong species name on this, I believe.

So, a guy in town here has a breeding pair of these. Every time I go to his house I am admiring them, and they almost always have a spawn of fry around them. He didn't have time to breed them, so I offered to buy them and he accepted!

I am so stoked! The only down side being is I am not going to pick them up till after I get back from Phoenix. It's best for them, but I always want to have the fish in my tanks once I have decided to buy them.

I wasn't intending to get any cichlids beyond the severums, angels and possibly later some discus. Definetely wasn't planning on any africans - but I couldn't resist these guys!

[fan4guppy]

So, a guy in town here has a breeding pair of these. Every time I go to his house I am admiring them, and they almost always have a spawn of fry around them. He didn't have time to breed them, so I offered to buy them and he accepted!

I am so stoked! The only down side being is I am not going to pick them up till after I get back from Phoenix. It's best for them, but I always want to have the fish in my tanks once I have decided to buy them.

These pics do NOT do them justice. His breeding pair is so much prettier than this.

http://www.cichlidlovers.com/n-helianthus2.JPG

I wasn't intending to get any cichlids beyond the severums, angels and possibly later some discus. Definetely wasn't planning on any africans - but I couldn't resist these guys!

Welcome to the world of Tanganikan Cichlids Dan, I have read about these being part of the Brichardi complex. They can be very agressive fish when guarding their fry and I do believe they build colonies like the other members of this complex.

There is a saying about this group at one time one of its members was called the Fairy Cichlid. Well dont expect Tinkerbell out of this complex. As it is said about this group they tend to have more fight in them that Mohammad Ali! .....

The cichlids you have kept before I do believe since you are mentioning Angels, Severums are ***** cats compared to the Brichardi Group!

Nice addition though Dan.... you will have a colony in No Time in calgary water!

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Yah. I've spawned brichardi and a bunch of other africans in the past. I've had experience with them. Africans are easy peasy in Calgary water, and make a fantastic tank in Calgary! Unfortunately for me, been there done that, but this Sunflower cichlid really catches my eye.

The Brichardi were called "German Fairy Cichlids'. I had a beautiful pair that spawned in a 20 community tank that I meant to take them out of before they spawned. Their 'prenuptial rituals' consisted of killing (and I mean stone dead) everything in the tank. There was one survivor, and he only had one fin left. He hid under a rock that he could slip under sideways. When I came home that night, the female was guarding the newly laid eggs, and the male was trying to root the one survivor out from his hidy hole. That litle guy survived by some miracle, and we called him Mr. Lucky'.

The colonly they form are indeed amazing and make an incredible tank set up. hmm. Time to round up some slate....

[vince0]

Congrats on the find dan, I had a pair of daffodils in my 55g that totally took over. after 4 months, I had over 200 babies swimming around in the tank. It was quite a sight, and I do miss that set up, maybe one fo these days ill get them again

[fan4guppy]

Yah. I've spawned brichardi and a bunch of other africans in the past. I've had experience with them. Africans are easy peasy in Calgary water, and make a fantastic tank in Calgary! Unfortunately for me, been there done that, but this Sunflower cichlid really catches my eye.

Yes I think all aquarists go through the African cichlid phase in Calgary for me it all started in 1969 I do believe what was then known as Pseudotropheus auratus came into town. And the president of the club back then was heavily into them Stan Davis... Man remembering the old aqua-bar in Calgary that was on 42 Avenue many years ago!



The Brichardi were called "German Fairy Cichlids'. I had a beautiful pair that spawned in a 20 community tank that I meant to take them out of before they spawned. Their 'prenuptial rituals' consisted of killing (and I mean stone dead) everything in the tank. There was one survivor, and he only had one fin left. He hid under a rock that he could slip under sideways. When I came home that night, the female was guarding the newly laid eggs, and the male was trying to root the one survivor out from his hidy hole. That litle guy survived by some miracle, and we called him Mr. Lucky'.

The colonly they form are indeed amazing and make an incredible tank set up. hmm. Time to round up some slate....

Yes when I finally got my Brichardi ... They were called Lamprolus Elongatus Savouri I do believe at that time they were the first Tanganikans ever to hit Calgary to my knowledge and were named "Fairy Cichlids" at Super S Drugs way back in the 70s. but it spawned more interest for me in other members like Tetracanthus etc.

Yes I had Brichardi the second time with Tetracanthus and Julies but soon learned that Julies would have to go in another tank away from the Brichardi ... cause of their tenacious attitude. ounce for ounce the Brichardi are just as vicious as any other cichlid I have seen.

.... going rock hunting dan .... lol

[CACAdmin]

Congrats on the new fish...even if they aren't yet in your tank. I'll be looking forward to seeing pics of the pair once you get them home and settled.

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Picked them up yesterday.

the male is hiding already, so took a few quick picks fo the female. She looks a little worse for wear from the drive, but still quite pretty in my opinion. Knowing the behaviour of this type of fish, I have named them 'Bonnie and Clyde'.

Not great pictures. I am still learning that part.

http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae184/Grimblyd/Skiffia%20lermae%20and%20Sunflower%20brichardi/Picture038.jpg

http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae184/Grimblyd/Skiffia%20lermae%20and%20Sunflower%20brichardi/Picture036.jpg

[CACAdmin]

Bonnie and Clyde, that's cute. She looks suspicious, as if she's saying "where the heck and I and what's going on?"

[Kimr]

Very Nice! i love the name!

[moose113]

These are great fish. I used to keep some in a 55 gal mixed Tanganikan tank, but I never had any issues with aggression. They spawned in there several times and never attacked any of the other fish.

[GaryinHamilton]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but thats not helianthus you have there, thats daffodil. Helianthus has the first black bar horizontal that connects to the second black bar which is vertical to form a "tee" as in the link you posted. That fish you took a picture of has the parallel vertical bars on the gill plate that is characteristic to that group of fish. Sorry!
Gary

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Thanks Gary. I've done some checking on pics on the net, and I think I agree with you.

I don't know much about cichlids so just take the word of the person that I bought them from, and he is a very honorable and knowledgeable person on cichlids has been my experience.

I have renamed both posts on this.

dan

[vince0]

Sometimes he gets them and they are listed wrong Dan, maybe he just wasn't paying attention. Its all part of the brichardi complex really. Just make sure you don't cross them :laugh:

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Harold holds to them being helianthus, so I am going to take some more pics and send them to him, and post here.

I like them either way, but I do want to make sure they are properly identified is my only concern.

[Dan_G_Calgary]

http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae184/Grimblyd/Neolamprologus/Angelbaby004.jpg

I think they're pulcher.

[vince0]

really nice pulchers if i say so myself

[CACAdmin]

Cool pic. He almost looks as if he's saying, "This is my cave, so nobody had better try to come in!" :wink:

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Thanks. I took about 6 pcitures like this. He rarely comes out. I was hoping to catch a few of their fry in the picture but they were all hiding inside with him.

Sent the picture to Harold, and he concurs that it is pulcher too. He swears that at one time they had the charecteristic markings of helianthus, but they sure don't now! haha!

No harm, no foul. I bought them becauce I really like them, not because they were helianthus or pulcher.