Iodotropheus sprengerae (Rusty cichlid)

Rusties are one of my favorite mbuna.

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Males can be very nasty to each other. The one in the net was so badly beaten up that I was able to pick him up in my hand to transfer him to a hospital tank. After he recovered I put him in the breeder net to let the others get reacquainted. I had to try every trick I could think of to keep him from getting beat up again. I tossed in all the fake plants and decorations that I had around, switched the rocks around, and finally had to cover the tank for a couple of days of darkness before the others left him alone. They still fight, but it hasn't gotten that bad again.
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These are offspring of one of the males above. Fighting just like Dad!
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A video of them going at each other.


Holding female -- not as brightly colored as the males.
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Fry
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Awesome pics Betty! And great video as well

Wow! think you made the one of my fav. mbuna now! ..... almost, still a demasonai fan though.

Yeah I'm digging those as well. Would they mix well with Saulosi??

BTW great ing footage!

I have 4 of those in my peacock/mbuna tank, they do have some nice coloring to them and not overly aggressive.

Addictedtofish wrote:I have 4 of those in my peacock/mbuna tank, they do have some nice coloring to them and not overly aggressive.

Their aggression seems to be very tied to their tankmates *and* tends to be very con-specific. A quad seems to do nicely in most tanks, but having multiple males is hit-or-miss.

Oh I cant wait to get some oh boy oh boy lol like waiting to go get candy when your little lol!!

Stierwalt3, I do have a few older juvies in a tank with saulosi and they have been fine so far.

Larry, my quad consists of one female and three males. I started with five juvies a few years ago, one died early on.

Very nice pics Betty..... you are really doing these fish the justice they deserve with your camera skills. Once again amazing pics.

Betty wrote:Stierwalt3, I do have a few older juvies in a tank with saulosi and they have been fine so far.

Cool I just might have to get some to add more color to the tank!

Very nice pics!

In the video...theres a larger blue fish that keeps coming into shot......can I ask what that is?

Thanks all.

Kiana, that's a Dimidiochromis compressiceps aka Malawi eye biter. A really cool fish.

I always tell people these are one of the most under rated Mbuna. I've got about 20 at 2" BTW and a couple large females which the fry came from. (betty you need any breeders?)

I love these but I am trying to clear out the tank they are in and use it for an overly aggressive front female in hopes of getting the rest of the colony to spawn. I'll post the fry in the offering to sell section if anyones interested.