So I added three new fish to my tank last week and two of them do not seem to be feeding.

I added a melanochromis johanni, a cynotilapia Afra Jalo and another i haven't been able to id yet.

The johanni is getting along great but the other two seem more interested in digging caves than eating. The rest of the fish all rush to the top of the tank when I approach and its a feeding frenzy but the afra jalo and the unknown seem to hand around the bottom oblivious to the food above.

I have been feeding them Nutrafin Tropical Flake food and the odd bit of cucumber so I'm wondering if maybe there something else i should be feeding?

Heres a pic of the unknown if anyone can help with an id?



The other fish I have are yellow labs and blue zebras which are smaller than the new additions

It looks like a melanochromis species, pos. northern blue or simulans????????? most look the same!!!!!!!!!! where did you get it they should know!!!!

Cheers for the help. I bought em in Petstop in Blanchardstown but the girl working at the time couldn't id him for me.

If he is a melanochromis northern blue or simulans do they have specific dietary requirements?

Northern blue are considered a micro carnivore, small crustaceans (krill, brine shrimp etc is fine) simulans is more an omnivore (everything) Both will do well on a mixed diet though of veggie flake and mysis, krill, brine shrimp etc.... as with all Malawis feed sparingly!!!!

Forgot to mention, mixing conspecifics (same family) is usually disasterous!!!! They will usually fight especially when adult and also crossbreed, so keep an eye on them!!!!!
All depends on the size of the tank though!!!

colouration reminds me of Copadichromis geertsi, or Copadichromis jacksoni, and if i'm right in my identification (heres hoping) then they are zooplankton feeders in the wild, so spirinula etc could help
Seamus

serratus:
Cheers for the info, i've got a 240 litre tank and the two melanochromis (if thats what it is) dont seem to be bothered by each other in the slightest. I'll defo keep an eye on that tho and pick up some of the food you suggested to try it out.

sheag:
Nice one, i'll try out some spirinula aswel to see if that helps

sorry for the hijack,
i have a very similar looking melanochromis, it was identified to me as mel chipoke, and it devours any food that goes into the tank, has this fish been identified wrong to me???


cheers

stan

Stan yours is definately a better picture on my pc, so i would now change my original guess and say with 99% certainty that it is a melanochromis chipokae, looks like the chidunga rocks version.... although both of your fishes have much more yellow in the fins which would strongly suggest they are female chipokae as the male is more strongly lilac there with yellow edging... as for feeding they are omnivorous, tending to be slightly more predatory,so do add some veg matter to their diet..and they top out at about 17cm long

Seamus

Yeah that image is a lot better and I would say that mine is also a melanochromis chipokae. The horizontal stripe on mine is less defined but a gorgeous looking fish either way. Mine is digging up the tank like theres no tomorrow! Its a pity hes gona grow so big as my tank is only a 240 litre...will prob have to move him on at some stage.