Paracyprichromis nigripinnis aka the "Blue Neon".
you got a pair, allright; but if there's any chance, best get a few more. this is a shoaling fish, like cyprichromis.
you can easily keep a dozen or more; male:female ratio should be 1:2 or close to it. Males aren't agressive to each other, the presence of rivals boosts colors quite a bit and makes for interesting displays as well.
It's native to Lake Tanganyika, wich means it likes hard, alcalic water (GH>10, pH>7,5). It's from the deeper rocky habitat, any rockwall or cliff deeper than say 15 meters or so. It's quite nocturnal for a cichlid, the Blue Neon dwells near overhangs and underwatercave-entrances.
This is a plancton-eater wich feeds on cyclops, daphnia, small insect larvae and he like. it's very peaceful and best combined with other peaceful cichlids. In a tank crowded with Tropheus, Neolamprologus brichardi etc they won't last long; but with more mellow tankmates they're actually easy to keep!
Males have a territory near the rocks and can swim in the most weird manner. Like a Synodontis, standing on the tail, head, side, clinging to the rock with either belly or back is perfectly normal. the females form groups in the open water near the rocks, the males use displays with both finnery and those blue stripes to lure ripe females.
Unique to c.ichlids is their manner of spawning, like Cyprichromis the egg is dropped in the watercolumn, but closer to the rock than true Cyps. the egg is fertilized by the male while it drops and then taken in the mouth by the female. a brood ranges from a few to 10 or so fry, and breeding time can last a month (!). Baby Blue Neons are almost 1,5cm large and fully formed. they already can feed on artemia-nauplii and cyclops.
Blue Neons have a lakewide distribution, but several varieties exist, differing on the blue pattern, some have more elongated fins etc.
fish yesterday...
