Tropical Fish Forums

Liszie · Exemplars Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: Lower Mainland, BC

I went into my LFS today to pick up some carbon and was browsing through the tanks and found, in a tank labeled "plecostomus", a little fish, about 5cm, hiding behind the heater. Intrigued, I gave the customary "oh you're a cutie aren't you? Hello. Hi." in baby talk (people stare, but I don't care) that I always give to fish I think are adorable. She came right up to the glass to look at me and presumably say hi. It was love at first sight. I called over a friend of mine who worked there and asked her what the fish was, and she didn't know. So she called over a bunch of people, who also had no idea, until there was a crowd of people, including customers who apparently got caught in the stampede, all "I don't know"ing. Finally, another employee managed to push through the crowd and pronounced her a Jack Dempsey. I believed him- I had no reason not to, and sadly went on my way. I don't think I have room for such a large fish. I came home and went to the gallery and looked up Jack Dempseys. The pictures in the galleries, as well as some pictures I found of juveniles, bear little resemblance to the fish I saw. Which then begs the question: if she wasn't a Jack Dempsey, what WAS she?
I wish I had pictures. She's about 5cm in length, a sage green, with a hint of irridescence, but nothing like the pictures on the net show Jack Dempseys as having. Her finnage actually looks more like that of a dwarf chichlid, in fact, I actually thought she was some sort of ram at first. Looking at a picture of a festive cichlid, I'd say her finnage was rather like that. She had a dark spot somewhere on her body, but I don't remember where.

Does anybody have any idea what she could be?! I have a 200L that I am probably setting up tomorrow and I'd love for you guys to say that she'd be happy in it... I realise that my description probably isn't great, and I apologise in advance. I'll keep looking in the galleries while I wait for a response...
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Liszie · Exemplars Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: Lower Mainland, BC

no one knows?
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Marcos Avila

The thing is, trying to identify baby American cichlids with a photo is already hard enough...without a photo it's pretty much pointless. Could be anything from a Curviceps to a baby Dovii...
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Success with a fish/tank is measured in YEARS, not months or weeks...

Liszie · Exemplars Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: Lower Mainland, BC

Yeah, I know. My LFS reopens on Tuesday, I'm going to have to sneak a camera in and try to get a picture.
I'll post again when I get one.
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