Tropheus Namansi Reef Firey Fry - Information Help

[myjohnson]

Guys,

I just think these are the coolest looking brichardi variant. However, there is little information on the internet. I was hoping some of the experts can help with additional information. I found this link with good information but you need to do a yahoo translate to read it.

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftanganyika-cichlids.com%2Fnamansi.htm&lp=fr_en&.intl=us&fr=yf p-t-501

There is also information in the aqualog on these fishes:

"Distribution: The distribution of this population lies in the vicinity of the village of Namansi in Tanasnia.

Discovered: This tropheus was probably discovered in 199 by Ad Konings and Laif DeMason during their exploration of the southern Tanzanian coast.

First importations: According to my information, this population was first offered for sale in Germany in 2000.

Coloration: In unstressed individuals the base colour consists of an orange-brown, which may be rather darker and greenish in the dorsal, and because vivid orange-yellow on the underside. The area below the eye is likewise bright orange-yellow. The iris is white-blue. There are bright pink-coloured ares around the eye, in the gill region, and at the base of the pectorals. Sometimes light vertical bars are faintly visible. Both sexes are the same colour, at least in neutral mood. Young fishes exhitbit a very striking juvenile which diminishes with the onset of sexual maturity and eventually disappears completely: they have a dark brown or, depending on viewpoint, bright red background, with vertical bars of the other colour. In 2001 a mutant form of this population was discovered, unfortunately I have only seen this fish in a photo on the internet. This individual was yellow-orange on the body while a small area on the back and part of the dorsal above it were dark in colour, likewise the caudal and a narrow marginal band in the dorsal.

Remarks: According to our current knowledge, this population is the southernmost representative of lineage 9. Itt escaped discovery for a long time die (sic) to the depth of its habitat. It lives on the same streach of coast as tropheus sp. "Namansi" (namansi red), population number 8.20, with the tropheus of the "rainbow lineage" preferring the supper part of the rocky littoral. This phenomenon is known from other parts of the lake Where is some cases up to four tropheus species share the biotope." by Peter Schupke.

Thanks in advance for any additional information.

[ddaquaria]

Man, there is no information....

You've posted this in 3 places and no responses except a few haters

D

[ddaquaria]

Tell me about it Donald. everyone is about half drunk and just want to talk s**t. .

I was not referring to here.

[myjohnson]

Stop BS-in and post the pick of your 40 namansi reef colony than!

[Zulaab]

MJ --- you need to give me the colony -- I will hold them for you until you figure out what they are and how they do etc.. (then we dont have to stop by your place on the troph tour.. and you can come see them at my house) man I am telling you.. you wont have a problem with your other fish missing them.. they will enjoy the extra space until you get a bigger tank in your place to hold them all :)

[myjohnson]

MJ --- you need to give me the colony -- I will hold them for you until you figure out what they are and how they do etc.. (then we dont have to stop by your place on the troph tour.. and you can come see them at my house) man I am telling you.. you wont have a problem with your other fish missing them.. they will enjoy the extra space until you get a bigger tank in your place to hold them all :)

Jesper, I called you early about my problem right now. I don't like selling people fishes that don't eat and not a decent colony size cause that's just asking for it.

But yeah, these are not going no where. I got a pack with Donald and John. These fishes are rare and they live or die with me.

[geoff_tropheus]

ok This is what I really know about Namansi Reef.

It was discovered by Konnings and DeMason in 1994 when Konnings was getting his photos together for his "Tangs in their Natural Habitat Book."

It is the most southern part of the lake where a Brichardi varient exists. It is the only place in the lake where a moorii (Namansii Red) co-exist with a brichardi. The Brichardi are even deeper than the moorii which are already a very deep finding compared to other tropheus.

In 1998 African Diving LTD starting maping out the area and collecting fish for export in that area.

In 2000/2001, Russ Utsler is the first person I am aware of that imported them into the US. Its a real shame he is no longer in business, but when African Diving quit collecting, he just kinda faded out. He used to have a really nice write up on his website about them. I know the person he sold a large colony too was credited with being the very first person in the US to have produced F1 fry.

The fry were very red, but not glowing red like the published photos. He told me that the people at African Diving told him it was because in their natural habitat there is a shrimp there that makes them that red, but that they are really that RED in the lake. None the less, the fish is really red compared to other brichardi types in aquaria that are red for a little bit or very orange while they are first spit to about 1 month in the tank running around loose.

The adults are a olive color with lots of yellow tint to them, and on the head. The fins are black and the iris a very pretty blue.

The fish is very rarely collected, and I'd say this group that came in is the first I've read/herd about them since about 2002. So they are definately a VERY RARE collection.

You are going to be really happy with the fish.

I still have contact with Russ Utsler from time to time, if you like PM me, and I can get you his email.

[geoff_tropheus]

BTW your link does not work. I think this guy works with the Brichard's as a Diver.

You can translate with google if needed, its French.

http://tanganyika-cichlids.com/namansi.htm

[ddaquaria]

Babel translation:

In November 1998, we made a new discovery with Namansi (Tanzania). At this place, one found a small reef which one called Namansi Reef. One already had inventoried several race news of cichlidé at this place, but the discovery of an extraordinary variety of Tropheus brichardi was undoubtedly most considerable. The collectors which went to the site indeed found a race of Tropheus brichardi whose youthful ones were red sharp.

The name of “Fiery Fry” was given to underline the characteristics of these youthful. The photographs presented above show individuals of approximately 7-8 cm. The adult specimens are not red but yellow shining with black fins. Other adults do not have yellow on the body but are dark with a yellow head. Lastly, much of old specimens do not present black bars and are remainder very coloured.


Tropheus moorii Namansi (Red)
Namansi Reef is the locality more in the South East of the lake where one can find of Tropheus brichardi. But one also finds in this zone of Tropheus moorii. Namansi Reef is in other words the only place of the lake where Tropheus brichardi and Tropheus moorii cohabit.

But there exist differences between these two species at this place of the lake. Tropheus moorii is most common there of both, and it meets almost exclusively in surface waters. Tropheus brichardi is less frequent and the adult individuals are often found solitary in deeper water. However, youthful the brichardi “Fiery Fry” is present daN sles surface waters.



Tropheus brichardi “Fiery Fry” is really the last species of Tropheus discovered. No specimen (January 99) was to date exported and some specimens would owe the being in the next months.

Today, Monday June 21, 1999, the first specimens are proposed with export. Remain that it is necessary to put the means at it. Indeed, the specimen is proposed to 250 US$ (starting price in Tanzania) and there would be even specimens OB to 535 US$.

[myjohnson]

I actually wonder how truly red or orange the fry are. I've had a colony of 30+ ulwiles and their fry were perhaps the best looking fry I ever kept to date. I wonder if the namansi reefs will be more red or orange?

Geoff, PMed you for his e-mail.

Donald, thanks for the translation. That's what the link says.

[Nickintex]

These fishes are rare and they live or die
<commit trophicide>with me.

And you claim you are not an elitist!

[myjohnson]

Stop drinking the haterade Nick.

[Nickintex]

Stop drinking the haterade Nick.

But you put scotch in it!)

[geoff_tropheus]

Thai,

I spoke with Russ, and he said no problem to contact him at the email I sent you. He also sent me his phone number if you want to talk to him on the phone.

[myjohnson]

So here are some pictures I shot off right after a water change.

Please excuse the cheap point and shoot.