I believe I have narrowed this fish down to Metriaclima Aurora, however I can not say for sure, and would like to narrow it down more if possible.

Have found very limited amount of pics online to compare. Any pics I have found have been generally 'stunning' show males, and I fear I'm being mislead somewhat from what my fish looks like.

anywhooo...heres some pics.

Andrew, I think you're right...But wait for Larry to confirm, or you might ask Joea over on CF! He keeps them, I think!

Kim

I would like to help but cannot see the pictures.

4larry Larry

Andrew, I could see the pix before (though I have not seen the species in a tank so I didn't comment) but they do not come up now. idunno

Can you edit your message and re-post?

Thanks!

Don

hrrrm Ill try and get the fixed up

Thanks

Pictures all fixed up

Andrew That is a Metriaclima Aurora male I hope u don't mind I showed ur picture to Mike at Finatics aquarium and he confirmed it for me.

But lets wait for the Resident Specialist to confirm for sure.

GLWT andrew

Thanks Rob, I appreciate that.

Andrew, you may have to wait for Larry to get back on this one.

It looks like an aurora, but it also vaguely resembles a kenyi male, so I just don't know...

Kim

I wish the pictures could pick up the purplish/cobalt colours.

Someone else had suggested a poorly coloured Kenyi male or possibly a hybrid of a kenyi. Of course I havent ruled out a hybrid, but Im not so convinced that it is yet.

Hmmmm
and we continue to wait..

Now if thats a kenyi male then no offence it looks like crap....for a Met aurora it seems a little coloured down :) But judging by the pics i've been i can bet its a Met ..

plus I had it comfirmed from a pretty reliable source.

I to would very much like to know what larry's take on this is.

Oh, I wasn't saying it was a kenyi male...Just that it vaguely looks like one!

I've not seen enough auroras to say one way or another.

If you're really wanting to know quickly, Andrew, send a pic to Joea over at CF.

Kim

Kim I asked Joea already. He was the one who said he thought it was a poorly coloured Kenyi male or possibly a hybrid.

Think Im best to wait for Larry.

Andrew

Was taking some pics tonight, and got 1 decent one of him. Just thought I'd add it along.

It looks to me like a juvenille Met. Aurora.
We have a few similar juvenilles...
They seem to get color later. We have a few 3.5" just starting to show... fishy
What size???

Ok,I missed getting back to this one.(next time PM me if it goes more than a few days)
Metriaclema aurora "yofu bay",Likoma Island

If your fish looks like this its an Aurora.

Metriaclima hajomaylandi 'same bay',Chizumulu Island

If your fish looks like this,its not an aurora! On the Floor Laughing
Now this coloration in an aquarium does look more violet/purle "ish".

Hope this helps

Cheers,Larry

Andrew, I have a trio of M. aurora. I have 2 males and 1 female. I got mine when they were about and inch and half or so in length. Mine did not look like what you have posted, but that in no means that yours are not aurora. I will post a couple of pics of my dom male and you can infer from them what you will. These fish are in the 3 to 4 inch range now.

Any answer back its been a month!

Cheers

Yeah,,,I got a question.

How come Mongos Aurora doesnt look anything like Larrys Aurora???

No disrespect but are they a different variant?

You know,,,,, roll eyes ,,,me again with the silly questions.


AP.

AP you already know the answer to that question!
Because it probably comes from another location in the Lake which has a different color morph.
Ya,I knew you knew! Nanananaa
Glad to see Mongo posting again! the Clap
Its been a while.

Cheers,Larry

Wow I wish I could find Aurora that look like that male in the wild.

I agree with you Orbs, that pic is awsome. Mine dont have that silverish look like the pic. Larry, are the ones in the wild realyy that light in color? Mine are dark blue with less yellow coloring above the eyes than your pic.

APII, mine look different because they are "special".

Boy do I know that "special" feeling.

To funny Mongo. Nice to see ya.

AP.

Yes,Mongo they are almost that light in the wild,but keep in mind that this fish is under direct sunlight in about 5-10 feet of water the the color does not look as intense.
I would say that this mbuna is not usually collected so far north,Yofu Bay as they are probably collected and shipped from locations closer to Stuart's Compund.
Yofu Bay is located at Likoma Island.
In answer to the original question,,,the pictures show the obvious difference in barring in these two fish (Hajomaylandi and aurora) so if the barring is closer together and 'thinner' is hajomaylandi and tif the barring is farther apart and thicked its Aurora.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,Larry