Jewel cichlid

[J village hobo]

I want to put my 2 jewel cichlids in a 110 gallon trough with some other fish of the same species. I need help identifying them so I can buy more of the same fish to put in the trough to breed. I thought they were hemichromis bimaculatus but someone said they're non-existent in the hobby and that they are hemichromis guttatus. Now from what I understand is that guttatus and lifalili have 2 spots. 1 on the gill and the second mid body and the way to tell those 2 fish apart is the mid body spot will be round on 1 fish and oval on the other. My 2 cichlids have 3 spots. 1 on the gill, 1 mid body, and 1 on the caudal tail. They were a brilliant red when I purchased them and over time they have turned almost black. Any info on that would be helpful too. There is a serious lack of info on the interwebs about these fish. Pics of the fish are attached

 

[Milingu]

They do not look like any wild species - as far as you can tell without seeing their true colours. So I would guess aquarium strain guttatus. Or some mix. I have seen "guttatus" that where showing 3 spots. My guttatus where also showing the 3 different spots but never more than 2 at the same time. Definitely not lifalili.

Yours look like something is not suiting them. Mine never looked so washed out, even when I skipped watechanges for 2-3 weeks.
I my experience they do not care much for water paremeters as long as the ph is below 7.5 and the water does not have too much nitrate.

 

[J village hobo]

Milingu
Well The only 2 things I changed since I first got them was add peacock cichlids (to grow out) and dropped the ph to 7.0. Maybe these guys like higher ph?‍..They were a brilliant deep red with bright turquoise spots with 3 black spots

 

[Milingu]

Are the peacocks stressing them?
The hemichromis might also have difficulties with the bacteria of the new fish.

How and how fast did you drop the pH?
The only Hemichromis that I know to like higher pH are H. exul and H. frempongi.

 

[J village hobo]

They've been together for a while now, so they should be used to the bacteria by now.No the 2 hemichromis run the tank since they're more than twice the size of the peacocks especially in girth. I dropped the ph gradually over a month and let the drift wood take care of the rest

 

[Fishman Dave]

Do you have a rock cave for them ? Whilst jewels will spawn on a rock surface, every pair I’ve ever had have all preferred to spawn in a cave and care for the young in private until larger when they can usher them around and guard at a distance.

 

[J village hobo]

Fishman Dave yes they have 3 caves that I made for them

 

[J village hobo]

Milingu Fishman Dave
Here's an update on the jewels. They're currently in a 110gal stock tank with peacocks and mbunas and are doing amazing. Their colors have lightened up and are showing more red and green

 

[Milingu]

Nice. I'm happy that they are doing good.

 

[J village hobo]

Nice. I'm happy that they are doing good.

Me to. Everything I read on them said they needed softer, acidic water but they're in rift lake water. I'm glad they're finally happy