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I went to the fish store, not pet smart, walmart etc, and they had two albino cichlids. Were pure white,one was about 2 and a half inches, the other about 2 inches. They said they were african, their heads were shaped like the 2 mbunas I have. Both had only one egg spot and could be seen clearly. Are therse hybreds? Two males? Sure pretty but I don't need 3 males to the one female I have. Ordere from the fish store over 3 weeks ago(2 female red zebras, one male) This is another fish store. Said back order cause Iraq stopped the importation. This soud wierd? I thought they came from africa,malawi lake. Both aquariun stoes can't tell me the names or sex of the cichlids they have. Really like the albino's, but need femaletoo. Help

There are several different varieties of cichlids that have the albino coloration.If you could possibly get a photo of them and post it that would help out greatly in determining what cichlid it is. Albinoism occurs when coloration pigment is absent from the genetic structure.
Some aquarium fish today are even bred to have the albino coloration. So yes they could possibly be hybrids.

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 11-Mar-2005 21:35

Also most of your cichlids now a days are farm raised and actually do not come from the actual Lake Malawi in Africa.
I some how also serious doubt the Iraq excuse that sounds just a little to far fetched with whats going on right now over there.

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 11-Mar-2005 22:20

Thanks, little more info. I did find and searched the internet on the snow white. It is my little guy to the tee. So far he is doing good with the others, though much smaller. He she or whatever is picking gravel. When I put the flake food in, he doesn't come up until the mini granuals I put in. He is A socofoli snow white( but could look like one) pretty and tough. My other socofoli doesn't even mess with him, her whatever. But sure chases the others around. Getting much better after a week of the new ones. No harm has been done to any of them. When I bought my little white one and the other 2 ,I set up my 10 gallon tank just in case. Thank you for you response, Carol. Any imput on sexing will be great. Hear one view that males egg spots are less and more disitint. Hear other that male has more and not distinct. All my fish are from the mbuna family.

Congrats on your new cichlid.Well if it's picking up gravel and moving it ,you most likely then have a male. He is moving the gravel building a breeding pit to spawn in just in case any females happen by. This cihlid is also an omnivore so be sure to feed it a good vegetable based cichlid flake or pellet.Try also to supplement its diet on occassion with frozen krill or bloodworms.
Best of Luck with your cichlids!