Thread View: sci.aquaria
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Started by Brian R Silverstein
Fri, 11 Dec 1992 17:43
Hemichromis I.D.
Author: Brian R Silverstein
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 17:43
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 17:43
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I have a puzzler for some African cichlid enthusiasts.
In short, I bought some (5) fish I couldn't identify...BECAUSE
I couldn't identify them.
I realize that the 3 likliest possibilities are
1) species I just haven't seen before
2) hybrid
3) hormones
The fish looks a lot like a regular Hemichromis "jewel cichlid"
as far a body shape and temperment. It was sold at the fishstore
as "neon jewel cichlid". The major puzzler is their color: it is
the main difference between them and regular jewel cichlids.
Description follows:
Coloring: "Jewel" scales are bright blue, about the shade of the
mouth of a healthy Jack Dempsey. Background color is
redder than the "salmon" shade that jewels are usually
in when not breeding, but not as red as the bright red
"jewel cichlids breeding" picture I've seen in several
books (do they really get that bright? mine never have)
There is a black "eyespot" on the gill cover, as in
regular jewel cichlids, but none near the tail on 4
of the 5 fish, and only a faint, faded spot on the other.
The edges of the dorsal and caudal fins have a thin
fringe of bright red, about 1/16 inch thick.
Current size of 5 specimens: 1-1/4 - 1-1/2 inches standard length.
Body shape: identical (as far as I can tell) to jewel cichlids
Sexual dimorphism: none apparent
Feeding: they eat Hikari cichlid pellets until I'm afraid they'll pop.
The "small" pellets hardly fit into their mouths, but
they'll each suck down 6 or 8 pellets for an evening meal.
Bellies bulge! These are piggy fish.
Temperment: they chase and nip each other a bit, but all the torn
fins they had 10 days ago when I bought them have healed,
so they appear to be fighting less than in the overcrowded
tank in the store.
Growth: noticible in 10 days! About 1/8 - 1/4 inches each
since I got them.
I realize that much of this is unnecessary, but I couldn't think
of what else to add that might be useful. If anyone knows what
these might be, let me know. If now, I'll keep 'em anyway: they're
beautiful... and let me know 8 months from now if anyone wants
fry: I have high hopes.
Brian Silverstein
Re: Hemichromis I.D.
Author: David Russell
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 16:20
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 16:20
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Brian: > > Coloring: "Jewel" scales are bright blue, about the shade of the > mouth of a healthy Jack Dempsey. Background color is > redder than the "salmon" shade that jewels are usually > in when not breeding, but not as red as the bright red > "jewel cichlids breeding" picture I've seen in several > books (do they really get that bright? mine never have) > There is a black "eyespot" on the gill cover, as in > regular jewel cichlids, but none near the tail on 4 > of the 5 fish, and only a faint, faded spot on the other. > The edges of the dorsal and caudal fins have a thin > fringe of bright red, about 1/16 inch thick. Just a guess. Sounds like Hemichromis Cristatus to me. The description fits. A.K.A "Forest Jewel Fish". Good luck, -- David M. Russell \ /--------\ ><> ><> ><> Clarkson University, MAE Dept, \-/(((((((((o\ ><> ><> Potsdam, NY 13699 /-\(((((((((--< ><> ><> ><> russell@sun.soe.clarkson.edu / \ --------/ ><> ><> ><>
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