recent purchase of p. humilis

[CYKong <CYKong@aol.com>]

hi folks,

i just picked up a pair of fish labelled "pelvicachromis humilis banji II".  i
understand they were imported from a breeder in germany.  these fish are new
to me and i was wondering if anyone had any experience or advice on them.

as far as appearance, they have the typical humilis body shapes, but the
colors are different from any humilis form i have seen, read or heard about.
both male and female change colors very quickly, depending upon mood.  the
male has blue vertical facial markings.  male may appear to be no different
from type "kasewe" at times and then suddenly can become a deep maroon/purple.
typically, the male is a light maroon with dark vertical stripes.  the female
is beautiful, and can look just like an oversize p. taeniatus/pulcher female
(except for a dark greenish-yellow head), but when courting, she is stunning -
with a greenish-yellow head and white body with iridescent yellows, violets,
greens and purples.

presently, i am keeping the pair (who are surprisingly very gentle with each
other) in a 30 gallon tank (pH 6.6, 1dKH, 1dGH) with four hasemania nana.

i bought the pair even though the male was breathing somewhat heavily, and he
is still doing so in my tank.  of course, if i had any self-restraint
whatsoever, i would have waited until i knew the breathing was not a problem
or at least until i knew more about this particular species, but.... what if
someone else had bought them first??  :)

thanks for any help,

- -mk.