Can you ID this fish?

[Cich-O]

Below is one of my fish, the

only one that remains unidentified. Ive tried a couple of forums now with no firm answers. I bought

her(Im assuming its a her) out of a tank labled "misc. African cichlids" which was also

the same tank that my male red zebra came from. Last weekend at a different store I saw an

identical fish, I was excited, maybe Id find out what she is! I looked at the tank label and it

said, "misc. African cichlids" http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/the...bluefish005.jpg (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/the-real-blkbird/bluefish005.jpg)
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/the...ird/fish005.jpg (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/the-real-blkbird/fish005.jpg)

[bobrfish]

My guess is cross bred

mbuna.

[Cich-O]

<!--quoteo(post=2545:date=Sep 22

2006, 11:24 PM:name=bobrfish)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobrfish @ Sep 22 2006,

11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2545)</div><div

class='quotemain'>My guess is cross bred mbuna.</div><!--QuoteEEnd--

>

Well, its definately an mbuna, I guess I should of mentioned that I knew that part,

lol. The thing about being cross bred Im doubting since I have seen the exact same looking fish at

two different stores so its either not cross bred or its a result of a mix that happens quite

often. I guess there could be different types of mbuna that are more easily enticed by a specific

other breed, or one that looks close enough to their own natural mate that they dont care. I

realize intermating is common but to succeed in making the same identical fish in several

places would be odd.

[bobrfish]

I have some pretty

cross bred mbuna. I believe I could sell some to Store A, B and C.

If a customer

walks into all three stores and sees these pretty mbuna, it will not change them from being cross

bred.

However, I said it was a guess. Continue to grow the fish out to adulthood. If

it does not resemble anything by time it is adult, it is a cross bred. (LFS rarely carry exotic

mbuna)
Even if it does resemble an mbuna that is a known species, no one can ever be sure

exactly what it is.

[Cich-O]

The two stores are atleast 40

miles apart and I saw them about a year after I got mine.

Anyone else?

[bobrfish]

error

[JustRon]

looks like a cross

between perlmutt and zebra.

[Cich-O]

I see the perlmutt but what

makes you think there's zebra in her? Actually from this pic of a perlmutt, http://www.tropheus.info/riftlakes/cichlid...perlmutt_e.html (http://www.tropheus.info/riftlakes/cichlids/labidochromis_sp_perlmutt_e.html) , it looks just

like her(even the faint barring) but she does'nt have any traces of yellow. Also she

does'nt have the spots on her anal fin, if that's a trait of both zebra's and perlmutts

would'nt she have it? BTW, Im not arguing, just trying to get this narrowed down as much as

possible. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

[bobrfish]

a faint resemblence to

Pseudotropheus socolofi

If the fish belonged to me, I would not name it at all. Oh

yeah, I already said that.

[Cich-O]

nevermind

[Cich-O]

Nevermind, a different

forum came up with Pseudotropheus lombardoi and after reading this http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_lombardoi.php and a couple other things, I

have to agree. The pic along with this description "The females are a white/silvery blueish

color with black, vertical stripes." I may never know for a fact that this is what she is but

atleast now I can say "I think it's a Pseudotropheus lombardoi" when asked instead

of, "I dunno".

[Lisachromis]

Honestly, I've never

ever seen a lombardoi (kennyi) female look that way. They tend to be very dark blue. Some even turn

a funny brownish colour reminiscent of the males colours. But as pale as the fish in your pics? No.

I suspect that your fish is a hybrid of some sort. I am not one to think of hybrids right away,

but I do on that fish. If you look at the slope of the forehead and the mouth area, you'll see

that your fish isn't a kennyi at all. Hopefully all you'll allow it to be is a pretty fish

in your tank and not allow any fry from this fish to go out into the hobby.

[Cich-O]

Looks just like it to me.

Perhaps its because the pics are a year old and she does look slightly different as she's

matured + you're not seeing her in person but my fish is identical to the one pictured in

person, except blue. Thanks for your oppinion though.

<a

href="http://www.timstropicals.com/Photo.asp?fish=CobaltBlue3&name=Cobalt%20Blue%20Zebra%

20Cichlid
Metriaclima%20callainos&Family=African&Page=CobaltBlueInfo"

target="_blank">http://www.timstropicals.com/Photo.asp?fis...=CobaltBlueInfo</a>
That's my

second guess but I doubt it as it has no barring, but since the other forum has a member who has a

female Lombardoi that looks just like mine and they know for a fact that is what theirs is, Im

satisfied.

[Lisachromis]

Why don't you give

us an updated pic then?