What's new April 2000
What's new July 2000
What's new October 2000
What's new January 2001
What's new April 2001
What's new July 2001
What's new October 2001
What's new January 2002
What's new April 2002
What's new July 2002
What is new October 2002

Lake Tanganyika 

Collections and exports from Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia are in full swing.  Due to increased competition, collectors in Zambia are especially active in finding different items (though sometimes the differences are in name only!).  Congo collections are still sputtering, although there is talk of increased access.  Tanganyikan cichlids are gaining popularity over their Malawi counterparts in the United States.  However this is not true in Europe and elsewhere.
 

Cyphotilapia frontosa with blue coloration exist everywhere in the southern third of Lake Tanganyika.  Due to the limited access to the famous Kapampa Congo variety, collectors continue to look for the bluest substitutes.  Here a very blue “Kipanga” form.	Exported from Zambia, this new red form of Altolamprologus compressiceps is sold as “fire fin”.
Somewhat smaller than other wild populations of Neolamprologus brichardi, this dwarf form hails from Karilani Island, Tanzania.	Also from Karilani  Island, this Julidochromis species is sold as “orange marlieri”.
A fish reportedly caught in the Congo, Neolamprologus helianthus is now being bred and exported as adults from Zambia.	Exported from Zambia, a new form of Ophthalmotilapia nasuta is marketed as “gray leopard”.

Lake Malawi

Collections and exports from Tanzania, Malawi, and, to a lesser extent, Mozambique are per normal. Commercial breeders of Malawi cichlids, especially in the Far East, have overproduced and thus lowered prices. The resulting effect has made serious Malawi hobbyists lose some interest in keeping wild-caught specimens. Wise hobbyists will choose their Malawi cichlid fishes carefully.
 
 

Caught in Sanga Bay (Malawi), this new Aulonocara variety sports a white margin to the dorsal fin.	This jumbo variety of red-top Cynotilapia afra hails from Londo, Mozambique.
One of the many “Chilumba” types of Labeotropheus trewavasae, this one from Tumbi Reef in Tanzania has red-ochre males with OB females.	Sold as Protomelas “steveni yellow chin,” this form from Pombo Reef (Tanzania) is one of the most beautiful with yellow that extends onto the face.  Photo by A. Konings.

Non-rift Africa

Both re-sellers and hobbyists are looking for something other than the “norm” in African cichlids. Many have tried their hands at fishes from Cameroon and other oddities from West Africa. Re-visiting this exciting and often neglected fauna has proved rewarding for that needed change of pace!
 
 

Formerly known as Chromidotilapia finleyi Moliwe (Cameroon), this fish has now been re-classified as Benitochromis nigrodorsalis.

From the southeast (Maralambo) area of Madagascar, the rarely-seen Ptychochromoides katria has now been bred in captivity.

Neotropics 

December marks the beginning of the collecting season in Brazil as well as elsewhere in South America. Discus, pike cichlids, and geophagines, as well as dwarf cichlids, are the general import fare for dealers. Neotropical buffs keep searching and finding new varieties to breed, usually from private collecting expeditions. Keep in touch with the specialty breeders/dealers for the latest!
 

Imported from Peru, the red morph of the pike cichlid, Crenicichla cincta, has unique vertical bars and very large size.  Photo by J. Rapps.	Native to Panama and growing to 10" in length, Amphilophus lyonsi is infrequently offered by specialty breeders.  Photo by J. Rapps.
Commercially-bred in the Far East, this heckel-type Symphysodon discus sports the selected traits of a high body form and distinctive striations.	Commercially-bred dwarf cichlids, like this Apistogramma borellii, are becoming popular residents in well-planted aquariums.