Salvini cichlid

I know everyone must be wanting to see more fish by now LOL.
I would never crop a picture as close in front of the fish and didn't as the second picture is. He was just starting to chase another fish and I barely got him in the frame. I kept it because it shows the colors so well in his dorsal fin,

I shot these with the 20D, 100 mm f/2.8 macro. 580EX. sigma 500 super DG and the ST-E2.

I can hardly wait until B&H has my 1D Mark III.

I just realized that I put this in wildlife. I meant to put it in pets.

Let's see what comes in to try to eat it!

This could be the bait, LOL!

Like the pics. Are they really that color or is there also tungston tint?

Asher

Asher Kelman said:

Let's see what comes in to try to eat it!

This could be the bait, LOL!

Like the pics. Are they really that color or is there also tungston tint?

Asher

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Those are the true colors Asher. Even the Whibal says so. These are one of the most colorful of this family of fish. This is a dominate male. The non-dominate ones are far less colorful.
They are predators and will hold their ground to much larger fish. Grows to 8 1/2 to maybe 10 inches.

How do they do at breeding? Seems in a small tank the big guy might eat everything that appeared. It's not like they have playground police!

Asher

Cool shots, Ron! Wonderfully clear and detailed.

I went ahead and moved the thread to the Pets forum, per your request.

Best,

Ron, you are the master of aquarium photography! I've struggled with this many time - I'll have to try your lighting tricks when I find the time.

- DL

Asher Kelman said:

How do they do at breeding? Seems in a small tank the big guy might eat everything that appeared. It's not like they have playground police!

Asher

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This family of fish is studied the world over for thei parental behavior, Asher. Both parents join in the protecting and raiseing of the fry ( babies ). The female stays with the fry and the larger male constantly defends the fry. If the male gets more than he can handle the female will come out and help him. They will go after what ever they consider danger many times their own size including a persons hands in the tank trying to keep it clean.several of this family have a formidable set of teeth with quite large canines. I hate my blood in the water so I leave them alone when they are breeding.
Several of this family are mouth brooders. They will open their mouth ar any sign of danger and the fry will all swim in. They will open their mouth when the danger is gone and the fry will swim out.
So in effect they are their own playground police.

Don Cohen said:

Cool shots, Ron! Wonderfully clear and detailed.

I went ahead and moved the thread to the Pets forum, per your request.

Best,

Click to expand...

Thanks Don.

Don Lashier said:

Ron, you are the master of aquarium photography! I've struggled with this many time - I'll have to try your lighting tricks when I find the time.

- DL

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Don, it really quite simple. Its mainly about setup and tank cleanliness. I have seen many people that were good photographers have terrible aquarium pictures because they didn't take into consideration that the camera picks up things on the glass and in the water that your eye never notices.

If I can help in any way let me know.