Melanochrmis Johanni stopped eating

[luc]

I need help determining what's going on with my male (?)melanochromis johanni (about 2 in long), which stopped eating about 2 weeks ago. Due to the color difference between males and females for this species, I know for sure it's a male, yet the bulge under its mouth looks like a brood (skin surface is intact and shows the dark content of the mouth). This bulge started to develop when it stopped eating. Does anyone know if females of this species (which are yellow) can somehow develop male coloring (i.e. black with blue horizontal lines)?

[artw]

open up it's mouth, if you see fry, your fish is female, and it's not a melanochromis johanni.

[328iGuy]

HA! thats one way to figure it out!  

[luvfishies]

Remember that there are some "johanni" species where the males and fems are blue and black.

[luc]

Would you happen to remember where you read on these johanni species for which the males and females are the same color?

Also, about catching the fish and openning its mouth: do you have a trick or method to catch fish in a show tank without having to spend the evening wrecking havoc in the tank?

[artw]

when you discover a way to catch fish in a show tank let me know.
otherwise it's remove everything my friend.
I'll check my cichlid book when I get home for female johannis, luvs right but unless your fish is wild it could be Anything.

[luc]

I think I found the answer to my question about which johanni species I have: Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos.

[ambushman2j]

LFS often sell Melanchromis Cyaneorhabdos or Maingano as Electric blue johanni, its a trade name, Melanchromis johanni your right male is blue female is yellow/orange but Maingano/Cyan.  both are same

[Nerine]

don't use coloured nets! white or a very fine mesh. but I don't like using nets in my show tanks...I use containers with holes in the bottom (so they move thru the water easier) that way the fins dont get damaged when thrashing around in a net!
but a white net or a very fine net that is pale helps.

[luc]

Thanks everyone for your help.