Tropheus
polli (G.S.Axelrod,1977) Tropheus polli is one of the seldom
Tropheus-types with in mature state a kind of a pattern with stripes. With the
other specimen the striping pattern is characteristic for the juveniles. Farther
characteristics are the special pattern of stripes and the form of the fins. The
tailfin shows resemblance with a swallow's tail. Tropheus polli is a little bit
larger than the other specimen;ca. 16,5 cm is quite normal for a mature man. Grown
up man are solid gray or brown, with some olive-green reflections. The body and
the fins of the female and the juveniles are olive-green green or brownish and
on the sides there are eight white-yellow diagonal bars between the gill covers
and the root. A nineteenth bar is on the outer part of the gill covers. You often
see also stripes on the snout and above eyes. The last one mostly runs across
the jaws until the throat. The eyes are light blue with a black upper edge. On
the gill covers there is a black spot. In the soft part of the dorsal and anal
fin and in the tailfin too there are little spots and orange stripes. Before this
species was known at the name the "Wimpelmoorii". On the determination
the electronic microscope was used to examine the teeth in detail and a description
sometimes is illustrated with remarkable pictures of it. G.S. Axelrod declares
that the colors are no criterion after all there exist several colorvariants of
the specimen. Others on the other hand estimate the colors and also the place
of the colors of great importance at the ascription just like the place where
they were caught can play a role. In this way the dominant red color Characteristic
for the southern variants of Tropheus moorii. Possible the electronicmicroscopes-can-method
give interesting insights. I assume that for the moment we have a useful classification;
however the last word about that certainly is spoken not yet. All the more because
of a number of splendid specimen, under thereunder f.e. the striking Tropheus
"Bulu Point" are still waiting for an official description. Tropheus
polli
occurs in the littoral zone at a depth from 6 until tot 10 meters in the mid of
the Eastern coast apposite of the Lukuga river and Kalemi. It seems to be that
also along the Southern coast of Bulu Island and around Bulu Point there haunt
a population.
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Purchase: When
one wants to purchase a population of a particular specimen of Tropheus he is
right to read up on the subject. In spite of the price one does not by Tropheus
by two or three but by fifteen or twenty. For preference young or juvenile specimen.
Therefore one tries to find a trusted and experienced fancier. One has the best
chance for it at one of the numerous fairs that are frequently organized in Belgium
and the Netherlands nowadays. In advance of course one has prepared a spacious
aquarium for them. At first we don't keep them together with other fishes. They
have to get an opportunity to explore the tank, to get acquainted with each other
in the way that a real social group is formed in which a specific order rules.
If one acts in an other way, the chance for disappointment is enormous great.
The fact is that they are extremely aggressive. And only in a group it is to be
suppressed well on one side and on the other hand it forms the binding element
in the group. Only in this way they are a sight for sore eyes of the aquarist
who spends many hours studying the behaviors. Each individual concurs his own
place on the social ladder. At only one or two individuals that of course is out
of the question. Only by taking of one or two specimen the order is disturbed
and dogged fights will burst out. Some fish will be the victims of it. The order
in the tank at home is also quickly determined when only one fish of the new purchased
ones will be left. Joung fishes, on the other hand, are to be acquainted to each
other more easily. They will start to establish in a natural way which one will
be at the top of the social order and which one will be the last. Of course every
individue will seize each opportunity to end in a higher place in the order. However
they know each other so well that this will never end in a slaughter but in some
sham fights in which it will sometimes come to pulling each other with the beaks
If this fighting becomes to dogged, some of the fishes higher up in the order
will come quickly and end the fight. Every fish will know its place. Just this
social behavior makes the group of tropheus to a lasting joy for the owner. The
bigger the aquarium the better. Stones put in it not only serve the esthetic element,
but the interacting of the animals also. In this way they are able to escape their
rivals by hiding behind or underneath the stones.
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