"This photo is finally mine and yes, it is acceptable" - this is the comment I made once I shot the photo in the middle. After two months, I will just say that now I am partially satisfied. The reason is the top photo of this fish. While this shot shows the vivid colors of this species, I always have the feeling that, no matter how good the picture turns out, still the colors are not well reproduced. When seeing this vivid red, the blue hues and the intense yellow one wonders what will it take to get the perfect shot. This species (one male with two females) were kindly donated to me by my father. 

It should be noted here (for the hobbyist who might consider keeping them) that our experience has shown this fish to be extremely aggressive towards conspecifics and other species. Its level of aggression should be characterized as 'very high' comparable to that of the most aggressive Malawi mbuna (Melanochromis sp. and Metriaclima sp.). The males will not tolerate each other even if they belong to the same brood (usually all but one are killed in any tank), while the females are constantly chased and severely harassed. Despite the many caves and crevices, the females will very rarely leave them and this is done only during feeding time or spawning. I would like to note that, strangely enough, the fry is not chased or eaten by the male - at least not in the early stages, when probably they do not represent a challenge to it. Raising the fry is only possible in many tanks each housing 2-3 males only. Even then, casualties are the rule rather than the exception. 

Photos: Top photo shot in January 2000, Bottom photo (pair) shot in November 1999. 

This is a photo of a Nymphaea lotus (nuphar) which grows in my tank !

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