FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hello,

I purchased this cichlid from my LFS. They told me it was either a Cuban or Nicaraguan cichlid, but after researching it, I don't think so. I have absolutely no idea what it is. Can anyone identify it?

http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=33725943/PictureID=972299548/a=39359548_39359548/t_=39359548

Thanks,

PF

well it is not even close to a cuban or nicaraguan cichlid. imo it has traits of several different cichlids. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is one of those low-grade leftovers from a flowerhorn breeding project.

Looks like a stressed out/premature cichlasoma tuyrense

body shape doesn't look right, imo, for a Vieja/Paratheraps.

Very true, but its the first thing that came to mind when I saw those spots. Possibly a hybrid I guess?

the body shape to me says Amphilophus but the mid lateral blotches that only extend across half the body is more a trait of a Vieja/Paratheraps (usually the line is not broken into blotches however) or more likely a Herichthys.

imo, it appears to be some kind of hybrid...possibly a very low grade flowerhorn.

Just checked a back issue of Todays's Fishkeeper in my collection.

There's an article entitled Little Blue Gems From Mexico, written by Juan Miguel Artigas Azas, featuring the Cichlid Theraps coeruleus. The match between the photos in that article and the photo linked in this thread isn't exact, but there's enough similarity to make it a possibility. Especially as Theraps coeruleus undergoes considerable colour changes between breeding and non-breeding, and possibly from juvenile to adult too. The image linked above bears sufficient resemblance to the photos in the article I've just cited to lead me to offer this as a possible identification.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

IMO, the snout is longer and the mouth is not right on this mystery fish to be any Theraps. I can see enough similarity for a Theraps to get a mention though. Take a look [link=here]http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery.php?genus=Theraps" style="COLOR: #000080[/link] and when examined carefully, you should be able to see the subtle differences in the snout, jaws and mouth of a Theraps species and this mystery fish.

Hmm, the mystery continues!

The other thought that briefly crossed my mind, though only briefly, because the spots aren't regular enough, was Tilapia mariae, but that fish usually has better defined spots, which in addition are noticeably 'square' in appearance. The blotches on this fish are too irregular and broken for that, but for a moment, I did wonder if it was a juvenile mariae ...

Here is a photo of Tilapia mariae ... in which the 'square' spots are pretty clearly visible.

EDIT : with you mentioning Paratheraps as a possibility Jason, I took a look at the Cichlid Room and found this:

Paratheraps brehidori ...

Similar enough do you think?


Last edited by Calilasseia at 27-Dec-2005 05:57

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Tilapia mariae has a body that resembles more of a GT or Blue acara, and the coloration is way off, the paratheraps also has a different body structure

By the looks of the picture provided, it's not a juvenile of either, i'm going to second jason on the flowerhorn hybrid

Wow- I'm a regular member over at cichlidforums.com and usually I can identify anything and all I can say is wow- I'm pretty sure you have a hybrid of some type there.

Thanks to everyone for assisting me in trying to identify this fish. I see I was not the only one that has difficulties.

After researching it a little further and talking with a few people at the LFS, I was given these two types that it might be although I am unable to verify with any online pictures:

Cichlasoma Pantostictum
or
Cichlasoma Labridens

Can anyone let me know if you think this fish is any of these ones and if it is what the common name is?

Thanks

Last edited by phillip_fish at 02-Jan-2006 16:51

phillip, those 2 could be possibilities though I would lean more towards H. pantostictus than labridens. I've kept botht he yellow and white labridens and neither have ever been a solid gray color as your mystery fish is.

Oh, both of those species are Herichthys not Cichlasoma. The Herichthys genus consists of the texas cichlid, carptintis and all their closely related cousins. if your mystery fish begins to turn black on the lower jaw area then it could very well be a Herichthys...possibly pantosticus. the only thing about that is H. pantostictus is pretty rare and not just any lfs could get ahold of them.

Thanks for the info Jason.

When I bought the fish from the LFS it was a single that someone had brought in because it had outgrown the tank so it is possible it is a rare fish.

If anyone wants anymore information on the fish, I would be happy to provide it. I will also try and post a few more pictures of the fish.

PF

posting more pics would be great. also, what size is the fish currently?

That is a hard one, flowerhorn is a possibility no doubt...but one thing i do know it's actually a pretty cool fish to look at..guess that's because i've never seen one before