Unidentified Cichlids • Unidentified African

[FishDad]

Hello all. New to this forum and look forward to using it.

I purchased this little guy in a mixed tank of many unidentifieds... Any thought as to what he might be. If you can't tell by the pic he or she is about an inch and a half. Thanks for the help.

[testeve]

I bought an unidentified fish that looked identical to this one about 2 months ago and posted on this site to try and get an opinion on an ID. Most people replied they couldn't tell until he got bigger and colored up. I would say you are probably in the same boat. It is probably a Copadichromis sp. though won't know more until it colors up. I am still waiting for mine to color up. Mine has some blues and yellows starting to come in, but not enough to help ID. Of course it could be a hybrid as well. Maybe someone else can chime in with more info.

[FishDad]

Thanks for the info. That would be cool, just google searched Copadichromis. Thanks again for the help.

[Jmatson]

I believe its a Protomelas sp. "Spilonotus Tanzania" it looks identical to my mine when they were that size. I have four F1 of the Liuli, Tanzania location. It is to small to positively identify though.

[13razorbackfan]

Looks like a young Copadichromis of some sort. There are a bunch of fish similar to this popping up all over the chain stores and many are showing very strong colors and fins for their size which lead me to believe they may have been hormoned. I am not saying this one is but they look similar. I know they are coming in from Asia where they apparently are doing some weird things such as hybridization and hormoning trying to make a quick sell. Might have some Azureus in him.

[FishDad]

From what I cant tell both the Protomelas and the Copadichromis look very similar as juveniles. Either way I'll be happy. He was a buck at the lfs.

[FishDad]

This is the photo that jmatson sent me. I think he might have nailed it...

[13razorbackfan]

Here is a pic of one that I bought about a year ago...

The flash makes it appear a bit more blue than it was but the second pic is probably more the actual colors....





How big is it?

[13razorbackfan]

Can you take a more focused pic doing making sure to get a good look at the fins?

[Jmatson]

The fish in FishDad's picture looks identical to my "Spilonotus Tanzania" (Liuli) which is pictured above. The first black spot (closest to its head) its almost like a double spot, its the same as mine. Yours does not have that double spot. Also the head/nose looks to be longer as yours is more shorter/ steeper. The yellow strip going through the dorsal fin is different as well. Looks more thinner and sharper/ defined then the fish you have posted.
I believe the reason why his fish is showing blue is because of the flash. Flashes show more color then we can actually see, that's why i never use my flash, gives the fish more color then it actually has. Especially reds and blues.
I still strongly believe its a Spilonotus Tanzania but only time will tell.

[13razorbackfan]

The fish in FishDad's picture looks identical to my "Spilonotus Tanzania" (Liuli) which is pictured above. The first black spot (closest to its head) its almost like a double spot, its the same as mine. Yours does not have that double spot. Also the head/nose looks to be longer as yours is more shorter/ steeper. The yellow strip going through the dorsal fin is different as well. Looks more thinner and sharper/ defined then the fish you have posted.
I believe the reason why his fish is showing blue is because of the flash. Flashes show more color then we can actually see, that's why i never use my flash, gives the fish more color then it actually has. Especially reds and blues.
I still strongly believe its a Spilonotus Tanzania but only time will tell.

I guess it is possible but the fish is way too small to be showing those colors and fins at that size. The fins are very long as though it were hormoned. A Protomelas, like the one you sent the OP, is what the fins should look like at that size. I doubt a Tanzania Spilonotus is thrown in with a bunch of assorted fish at a LFS or chain store where it was likely purchased. Again....I guess it is possible although I don't think it is a Protomelas of any kind.

[sickwithcichlids]

what part of Ohio are you from? It looks exactly what my Copadichromis Azureus looked like when he was young. Heres a pic of him now.

[FishDad]

I really appreciate everyones input on this. Very active and interesting forum. I live in the cleveland area and purchased him from Pet Supplies Plus. I picked him because he was the only one I couldn't Identify. I'm in agreement about the spots, I think the double spot, and I'm no expert, is the defining characteristic. I'll see if I can post a clearer pic this evening. Thanks again.

[sickwithcichlids]

I got mine at the North Canton Pet supplies about two years ago. They order from Segrest Farms

[Fogelhund]

When you purchased from an unmarked tank, with Unidentified fishes, there is a high probability you bought a hybrid. Sure, there are pure species that will look similar, often a bit like one of the parents. Unfortunately many of these mixed peacocks/haps are coming in cheaply from Asia, and these are full of hybrids, and often hormoned.