Xenotilapia Nigrolabiata Red cherry Princess

[finadic]

Here are a few updated pictures.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Pretty!

[...]

They are pretty for sure Walt. Thx for the updated pics!

[Mr_kurtz]

These are a nice Xeno!

Very difficult to collect though. They are very "Soft" not a hardy fish at all. Losses are high when they are collected. The local guys dont like collecting them because they are deep (requiring a lot of air fills, which = $$$ out on the lake) they dont find so many at any given time, at least close enough together to catch, and when they do bring up those they managed to find/catch the losses are great.

I've often wondered if they are any harder when tank bred ? Of course most fish are when they are tank raised but with this Xeno I am not so sure. Don't come across many ppl who have/keep them.

They have been found in several locations in Zambian waters now. First specimens came from Chituta Bay around 2001. First spotted and reported by Evert Van Ammelrooy (pers comm.)

Now also found on the Western side of the lake in the area South of Cape Chitika. I have heard they are also found in Nsumbu area? but not sure on that.

I would love to keep some myself but cant convince the local divers to go get some because they fear that there will be problems over money spent for not enough fish brought in. That alone tells you volumes on how hard it is to collect these fish. Nt because they cant be found - they can.....but because of how difficult it is to handle them and keep them alive after capture.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Excellent colors though walt!

[finadic]

Thanks, I’ve kept these F1’s now for about 2 years. Spawning seems to be more difficult than keeping. I separated my crocodile Island flavipinnis & put the group of 5 RARE F1 adult red princess as the bottom dwellers a few months ago in with my wild red Petrochromis colony & seem to fit in quite well & look really cool with them. All seem to get along great as they come from the same water depth. Would be nice to see some fry swimming with the newly hatched full term released F1 red Petrochromis Mahale fry!

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

What size tank are the bulu in? No issues with breeding once you added the other fish?

[finadic]

The wild Mahale red Petrochromis group are in a 200 gallon, & no issues with breeding them as the red princess seem to keep to themselves & there is breeding continuing still with a few new batches of true F1 red Petro fry currently available.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

sweet!