View Full Version : Paratilapia Bleekeri
Just thought I'd share some pix of these guys! Both of them were stressed out so his colors are off, They are usually a velvet black and spots come out goldish to aquablueish. I ve had them for about a month now! They are awesome fish, but extremely mean! Anyone else have any???
Looks more like Paratilapia polleni to me.
Had a couple back in 2003.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/Phatboy/Cichlids/DSC01005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/Phatboy/Cichlids/DSC01009.jpg
Sorry for the Ash quality pics.
Looks more like Paratilapia polleni to me.
Had a couple back in 2003.
Sorry for the Ash quality pics.
thanks.. Anywho they were sold to me as bleekeri they also have larger spots then polleni do so thats why I assume. If you seem them up close and personal you can tell the spots are larger.
Yes, they are P. Polleni. Ash's 2nd pic is a heavily spotted one, is it an African import?
Yes, they are P. Polleni. Ash's 2nd pic is a heavily spotted one, is it an African import?
I'm almost certain that all Paratilapia sps. available are captive bred.
cichlid savage
06-29-2006, 1:10 PM
I have a polleni (i think) and it looks just like ash's. I have had it a few months now hes growing slow and getting a bit more aggressive but i would never call him mean. here's a pic when i first brought him home. (Yes another crappy savage pic:raspberry )
I have a polleni (i think) and it looks just like ash's. I have had it a few months now hes growing slow and getting a bit more aggressive but i would never call him mean. here's a pic when i first brought him home. (Yes another crappy savage pic:raspberry )
Yours look like it has much much smaller spots then mine o__o Even Ming's has much smaller spots then mine. You can tell if you saw them in person - spots are large, trust me those pictures do not do them justice. On top of that polleni are not as agressive as bleekeri and they stay smaller then bleekeri. Mine are getting pretty large and they are still growing. Mine are also much more agressive then a polleni should be. They also have alot of characteristics of a bleekeri not a polleni. The only reason those 2 even get along in the same tank is b/c they are one male and one female and although they are not usually tolerant of the same speices, they act as if they are pairing up. Also where I got them from the guy knows his fish and the difference between to the two.
As for where they came from - I do know its illegal to take these fish from the wild (but of course many people dont care as they are taken from the wild and sold). I dont know if they are imports or not.
Tongue33
06-29-2006, 2:54 PM
I think she might be right.. The Polleni also seem to have round dots. and Bleekeri look to have some but not many "round spots" They tend to pattern from what i've seen.. And connect to one another as Ash's seem to do ..
Tongue33
06-29-2006, 2:57 PM
Check these.. I am no expert just came in contact with this fish a few months ago..
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=117
Check these.. I am no expert just came in contact with this fish a few months ago..
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=117
yup mine has the bigger more odd looking spots not the small all neat looking spots =) easy to tell! anyways they are both great fish!
yup mine has the bigger more odd looking spots not the small all neat looking spots =) easy to tell! anyways they are both great fish!
Just to show how bad your photography skills are.
They're probably convicts but the pictures made them look like pollenis. :eek:
Just to show how bad your photography skills are.
They're probably convicts but the pictures made them look like pollenis. :eek:
so I cant take pictures -__-; Not everyone takes photos like you!
No you mean no one takes photos like you. :p
:ROFL:
littlebear
05-22-2009, 7:00 PM
My Paratilapia were also sold to me as Bleekeri, they look like ash's. Not an expert, I can't confirm...
My pair were the first to pair off from their fry group (brood? - what's the term , anyone?) Anyways, they were the "dominant" pair, for what it's worth. Paratilapia Bleekeri seem to be somewhat incestouous, brother mating with sister. I have had mine since 2007. They are currently on their third egg/fry experience. The first eggs were eaten. The second set hatched, and the fry were eaten. They are currently "parenting" a group of about 100 fry, now 4 days old. I have set up a fry tank and will transfer them tonight to avoid them becoming dinner. I hope to sell or trade them. I am in the front range of colorado, if anyone is interested. I am set up to receive e-mail.
Great fish with personality who respond to their owners. Mine seem to rcognize me. Try feeding them worms from your yard or garden, they love them.
I will not apologize for the pic. lucky to live in the digital age and even get any!
LadyBarbara001
05-25-2009, 1:29 AM
Ash, from what I've been reading, bleekeri isn't a true name, although it is used at times. Seems like what you have is Paratilapia sp. "Large Spot." I have some of these as well, and ran into the same problems with the names. Bleekeri is a name used in the trade quite a bit, but I don't think that's a true scientific name.
Vicious_Fish
06-23-2009, 3:01 PM
Nice fish, I just picked up a little 2" one over the weekend. I've always wanted P. polleni. :)
beginneralex14
06-23-2009, 5:38 PM
theres one for 25 $ at my lfs u think thats a good ddeal
Fishes33
06-23-2009, 5:49 PM
I had these awhile back
The big male it was said to be wild caught
and the female is captive bred
chefjamesscott
06-23-2009, 5:55 PM
i have a colony of bleekeri here will try to get some clear shots taken today but here are a couple i have already
this is just a shot I took of an oscar
http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/chefjamesscott/all%20souped%20up/IMGP3779.jpg
a close up of my mated pair
http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn352/chefjamesscott/all%20souped%20up/IMGP3162.jpg
usually their spots are a teal bluish except when they get stressed it turns the color in the pic
I have about 11 of these fish will try to take some more pics tonight when I do wc
I got them as bleekeri small spots when I bought them
I just thought they were a stunning fish with the whole color transformation thing from grey to black with teal spots
they are to similar!
either way, those are some pretty fish. :)
Vicious_Fish
06-23-2009, 11:19 PM
theres one for 25 $ at my lfs u think thats a good ddeal
I picked mine up for $6.00 bucks at That Fish Place. :D I thought that was a hell of a deal.
tommy_dunk@mfk
09-12-2009, 8:31 PM
i used to have polleni was an agressive lil **** never backed down lol had real n set o teath on him too
Oh they do have a mean set of teeth on them.. ever been bit by one? I have.
BastardFish
09-20-2009, 2:00 AM
They look very nice but they are not bleekeri. The one you had in the second pic did have quite a bit of spotting but their just not large enough. The first and third pics there is no question about it you have polleni, but who cares both species are super sweet in my book!:headbang2:popcorn: