Labeotrohpheus trewavasae "mpanga red"

[Jason S]

Nice variant of L. trewavasae. The apparent collection location of "mpanga" has always troubled me as both Ribbink et al. (1983) and Konings (2001) report the variant of L. trewavasae at Mpanga Rocks as being all blue in color. I assumed they may have come from a smaller reef/location near mpanga and showed the common rust red-orange color of L. trewavasae found at many loocations near Chilumba. The females supplied by Old World Exotics for this variant are the O or Orange color though I'd imagine the grayish and OB forms of females may also occur in the population. Pictured below is an F2 pair of L. trewavasae "mpanga red" spawning:



Recently came across some photos of L. trewavasae "ochre" reportedly collected near Chilumba [Luwino Reef] and they appear to be the same variant (synonym) of the "mpanga red". Both variants with O females. Here's a link to Stuart Grant's photo from Malawi: http://www.lakemalawi.com/prev_fish/fish_mar05.htm






and an importer's photo of males:
http://www.malawicarsten.dk/malawilex/v ... 73&lang=dk




Regardless of the name, execellent strain of trewavasae that [hopefully] will remain in the hobby for some time. Anybody else keeping these?

[Orbital]

Jason's strain of this fish are outstanding, I got to see them first hand when I was getting a few fish from him before his move. I got a few of these as fry from a GCCA member early this year before I left for my training. They are still fairly small and show no color yet, but are around 1.75-2" maybe now. They show 2 horizontal bars similar to Perspicax right now.

I also have two or three slightly larger Labeo. Trewavasae RT, Zimbawe type maybe. The female is very similar to your Mpanga pictured right now in color & OB.

I hope this particular strain lives on as well Jason.

[pkut]

Do you still keep these Trewavasaes Jason?

[Jason S]

I had brought some when I started the aquariums here Fall of last year but they had been stressed prior to the trip back and probably developed an opportunistic bacterial infection and I lost them. My dad has a few from my original line that he is going to raise/breed again so I'll probably given them another go at some point.

There was a guy in N.C. posting on the CAAS and FishTalk forums with these though and his strain looked pretty good.

[oopsadazy]

Nice variant of L. trewavasae. The apparent collection location of "mpanga" has always troubled me as both Ribbink et al. (1983) and Konings (2001) report the variant of L. trewavasae at Mpanga Rocks as being all blue in color. I assumed they may have come from a smaller reef/location near mpanga and showed the common rust red-orange color of L. trewavasae found at many loocations near Chilumba. The females supplied by Old World Exotics for this variant are the O or Orange color though I'd imagine the grayish and OB forms of females may also occur in the population. Pictured below is an F2 pair of L. trewavasae "mpanga red" spawning:



Recently came across some photos of L. trewavasae "ochre" reportedly collected near Chilumba [Luwino Reef] and they appear to be the same variant (synonym) of the "mpanga red". Both variants with O females. Here's a link to Stuart Grant's photo from Malawi: http://www.lakemalawi.com/prev_fish/fish_mar05.htm






and an importer's photo of males:
http://www.malawicarsten.dk/malawilex/v ... 73&lang=dk




Regardless of the name, execellent strain of trewavasae that [hopefully] will remain in the hobby for some time. Anybody else keeping these?

I just want some like the first ones

[Jason S]

Try this guy in Charlotte for "mpanga red"; he had them listed recently:

http://pvelasco.net/CAASBBS/viewtopic.p ... ght=#30056

[Cali]

I've wanted this type for some time, but I've never been able to find them locally, wether it was San Diego, Houston or Las Vegas. I finally had some shipped (found 'em on ebay). I was rather hessitant on the whole shipping fish idea, along with quality of fish I've never seen. However, they arrived safely (ordered 5, the breeder shipped 7, 2m5f, I'd guess 1.75"ish). The colors are just starting to come in, males are a nice blue with the orange/rust starting to show. Females are bland, almost colorless, with vertical bars showing, sometimes. So far all looks good, I hope to get a few more from another breeder, just for a gene pool. Looks like I'll have the market cornered in vegas when they breed

[Jason S]

Try and get some photos from any breeder any of these as I've seen some poorer quality stock more recently. The original stock I worked with was from Old World Exotics [Leif Demason's fish farm in Florida]; I was told they are a "Chilumba" type trewavasae -that is coming from somewhere near/around the Chilumba area of the lake. Females from the "mpanga" type should be of the "O" or orange form, that is as pictured above a washed out orange color with very little spots. As juveniles the females will be -as you mention- brownish with vertical bars. The males will start brownish too but soon progress to a grayish/blue color around 1.5" in size making determination of males and females easier as juveniles. Using a feed with natural or supplemental carotenoid pigments [e.g. krill, cyclopeez, or listed as asataxanthin -a common supplemental carotenoid from natural sources] will really bring out the orange-red color in the males.