Color question about my Mbamba

[gmoses]

So i have a new group of 2 maybe 3 Lab sp Mbamba i got from my lfs. I was wondering if it is normal that specifically 2 of the mbamba and actually 2 acei are very dark in color...almost black. When i purchased them the acei were much lighter and only one mbamba was a bit dark.. I will take pics as soon as i can but they get so crazy everytime i come near the tank thinking its feeding time i cant get a clear shot... I thought usually dark met more dominant but should i be worried that so many are dark. could it be a water problem or is it normal... also what is weird the female mbamba is the most dominant in the tank keeping the main space for herself...? is that normal?

[misterted]

First of all since they're new fish it takes some time for them to settle in and get used to the new home. The color won't be perfect until then.
Regarding the female Mbamba are you sure she's not a he? Although I have seen aggressive females before but it's rare.
Maybe someone else will chime in as well.
Pics are the best way to get help. Keep trying with a digital camera.

[gmoses]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/goinonbro/1-1.jpg
still working on the rest...its hard cuz they are fast and dark...cant get the right settings

[nick a]

What were you told that fish was?

[gmoses]

by the ? i am now concerned...
I was told it was a female lab sp. mbamba
is it not

[gmoses]

http://picasaweb.google.com/gmoses/Labs?authkey=OMl5KoB_l-A#
not very good true but i am trying these crazies wont stay still

[nick a]

Unfortunately I can't see stuff on picassa from my work PC--I only saw the posted pic because i was able to shoulder my daughter off the home PC last night :)
The pic you posted above is nowhere near anything like i'd expect from a Lab Mbamba--there are a number of other species i'd guess (but they'd just be guesses.)

Have you seen a picture of a male L. mbamba? The females look more like toned down males. The black margins on the tail fin remind me of something .....

[joe_jaskot]

The black margins on the tail fin remind me of something..... maybe an elongatus?

[Artie]

It looks like a pseudotropheus Daktari to me !!!!!!!! But what would I know since i'm sooo old !!!!!!!!!!!!:grhair:

I actually was going to say this yesterday but I couldn't remember the name!!!!!!!:erm:

[gmoses]

So when you say elongatus are we talking pseudotropheus?
After looking at pics of daktari i can see the similarities...
So i guess now i must go and argue with the lfs to exchange it for me...to bad i really like him.

[misterted]

Late reply, just saw this. So what happened?
That is most definitely NOT a Lab. Mbamba.
It is DEFINITELY some type of Ps. I don't think it's a Dakhtari only because of the Barring. Male Dakhtaris don't have the barring even when they are in color transformation which is blotchy and this one isn't.
But it IS a MALE which would explain the aggressive behavior it is exhibiting.

[gmoses]

In the end i decided to take him back to the lfs and the guy i normally deal with right away apologized and said not to deal iwth any one but him because he is th emost knowledgeable. So he went to find me a new (actual) female but the shipment looked not so healthy so he told me to call later in the week and he will look for me when th enext shipment comes in. Again thank you.
The rest of the fish thank you as well as they are coloring up nicer now that they have some more room to breath.

[themadhap]

Most of the time LFS are retarted they have no clue what they are selling so Artie is right it looks like a daktari look it up in the bible (Ad konigs books)