[python]

I bought this little guy at wal-mart from the "mixed african cichlids" tank. I think he is cool because he is shorter and fatter than all the cichlids I have seen that are like him. I was wondering if anyone with cichlid experience could give me an idea of what he is. Thanks a lot.

 

[JenThePlantGeek]

"Peacock" cichlids will interbreed between species until there is no telling what sort of hybrid you have. Most likely this is a peacock hybrid mutt. Still a great fish though - looks like it has a lot of personality!

(that's why Petsmart sells them as "mixed" - even THEY don't know what they have anymore!)

 

[python]

Would peacocks interbreed with other cichlid species? Because this one has many features that resemble my zebras and other similar species.

 

[JenThePlantGeek]

Yes, peacocks will breed with each other (OB Peacocks are a man made hybrid), and other cichlids also interbreed - especially the Julidochromis and Pseudotropheus species.

 

[dufus]

Most cichlids will interbreed, if it's a mouthbrooder, it can interbreed with a mouthbrooder. i have a Dimidichromis compressiseps cross breed with Labidochromis caueralus on a regular basis, none of the fry live longer than a month though.

 

[python]

Do any of you have an idea of what type of cichlid may have interbred to create such a stubby fish? He is really a full inch shorter than my other cichlids of similar body size/maturity.

 

[dufus]

looks like melanochromis auratus and a peacock, no way to tell for sure i'm afraid.

 

[Fishboy08]

As a matter of fact, I do not believe it has any peackock in it. I know it may still be interbread, but really, it doesn't show any peacock colors,figures, ect.

To me it looks like M. auratus ... http://www.cichlidforum.com/profiles/species.php?id=750

It seems to be a female at this point, but if it is still small, it could turn out to be a male. The males tend to be black bodied with white stripes, while the female are more yellowish with black stripes as seen in the picture above. Granted, it could still have other genes in him/her, but I think we can safely identify this as Melanochromis auratus


EDIT: After going to the link, you can change the image shown by clicking the dropbox and then selecting female or another image!

 

[dufus]

I've had m. auratus, the stripes are very defined, unless it is a changing male turning to black. but how big is it?

 

[python]

Auratus is very long and skinny, this fish is stub city. He is actually in with an albino auratus .

 

[python]

He is about 2.5", but looks to be about as mature as a normal 3-4 incher

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I could be wrong, but a "true" Peacock Cichlid, Cichlia Ocellaris, won't/can't interbreed with any of the Africans. It's a BIG river fish from South America. Africans are lake fish from...Africa.

Tommy <9))>>{

 

[Gatekeeper]

Actually It could be Black White Johanii (Melanochromis perileucos). But could be an Auratus...

Is it very active?? Aggressive? If it is, then that is where i would put my money. Peacock is always a fall back since a majority of them are Hybrids, and a store like PetCo wouldn't be the wiser. But most "assorted African" setups in these stores will house many species since alot of Africans are Dimorphic, thus as Juveniles they are hard to identify since true color and sex are not established.

give it a few more months and watch to see if it colors up more.

 

[python]

he is not as active or as aggressive as my other mbuna

 

[JustOneMore21]

I vote hybrid. Looks like a Peacock (Aulonocara) and Mbuna cross (possibly of Auratus).

 

[dufus]

I could be wrong, but a "true" Peacock Cichlid, Cichlia Ocellaris, won't/can't interbreed with any of the Africans. It's a BIG river fish from South America. Africans are lake fish from...Africa.

Tommy <9))>>{

We're talking about african cichlids under the genus "Aulonocara". The common name for the genus is peacocks. and these can and do interbreed with other mouthbrooders.