Aulonocara Maylandi (Sulfur Head Peacock)

[Howie]

So I have a new addition to my 120, a beautiful 6+" Male Aulonocara Maylandi.

Unlike others I've seen, this one has yellow on its snout extending in between the eyes and the color morphs to an almost snow white on its back and blaze. It's head is a more aqua blue and body is a deeper blue. The anal fin has a golden yellow on the bottom outer periphery.

Has anybody seen one or had one with this coloration before? Is it rare?

Here are pics:

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

Its a hybrid; sulfurheads don't get that big and they don't have any white. Finding pure sulfurheads seems to be tough recently.

 

[Siklid]

Howie,

I agree with Michael. While it is a very nice fish, it is a hybrid.

Thanks,

 

[dogofwar]

Yes - pretty fish but not A. maylandi.

 

[Howie]

Good to know. Thanks for the clarification.

Despite being a hybrid, it's a cool fish and I'm really enjoying him.

I wonder what the cross breeding was of a sulfur head with another Cichlid to get that coloration. The mysteries of aquaria!!

 

[Siklid]

Looks like a hybrid of a Protomelas spilonotus "Ovatus" Mara Rocks - species profile: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1359

Yours is a very nice looking fish - enjoy it.

 

[greekz]

has similarities to an electric blue ahli
cool looking fish though

 

[Howie]

QUOTE=Siklid;222380]Looks like a hybrid of a Protomelas spilonotus "Ovatus" Mara Rocks - species profile: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1359

Yours is a very nice looking fish - enjoy it.[/QUOTE]


Thanks, Roger!

The pics really don't do justice to the spectacular snow white forehead and blaze. Has to be seen in person to truly appreciate.

He and my 7" Super Red Empress are best buddies and are the alpha males in the tank.

 

[Reed]

A couple of my malandi's from my breeding group



Veryfishe.com

 

[Siklid]

Reed - those are some very Fishe fish.

 

[Howie]

A couple of my malandi's from my breeding group

View attachment 13628

Veryfishe.com

The fishe harem.

 

[Tony]

A couple of my malandi's from my breeding group

View attachment 13628

Veryfishe.com

Reed,

Hate to busrst your bubble, but I am fairly confident that your fish are not Aulonocara maylandi either. Your fish are way too yellow in the body and fins and their bodies are not blue. Male maylandis are either blue in the body or silver (depending on their place in the tank pecking order).

Here is my old group when they were young. They came from Dave Schumacher.

Mature male (their breeding coloration is a dark purple, almost black):

 

[Reed]

It was not a good picture. They look exactly like the picture on http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=653

 

[catfish2007]

Either way even if they are not pure breed they still are really cool looking fizh

 

[Pat Kelly]

Is this a sulpher head competition?

 

[dogofwar]

^
Winner

 

[Pat Kelly]

Looks like one of the many fish called sulpher head Hap

 

[CichlidDan]

Very nice looking fish Pat!