Cichla Pleiozona information needed from the cichla experts here

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BigUmbeeFan

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 8, 2009
925
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nj
I just got my 1st Pleiozona yesturday courtesy of Houdini89.

I don't know much about them but I have seen the Darboy growout thread. I like how they resemble a yellow perch.

What I want to know is how big do they get ?

Are they just a version of monos or a completly different species all together ?

How rare are they in the hobby ?

Is it a very common cichla like monos or ocellis or is it a rare score to have ?

What are they truly worth ?

I know Sharkaquarium is selling them at $99.99 a pop for 3 inchers. Is that a fair or high price ?

I know I have many questions , but I like to know all I can about what I have.

Thanks for all your anticipated help.

Here he is , my 5 inch Pleiozona
View attachment 822105
DSC01124.jpg

DSC01124.jpg
 
BigUmbeeFan said:
I just got my 1st Pleiozona yesturday courtesy of Houdini89.

I don't know much about them but I have seen the Darboy growout thread. I like how they resemble a yellow perch.

What I want to know is how big do they get ?

Are they just a version of monos or a completly different species all together ?

How rare are they in the hobby ?

Is it a very common cichla like monos or ocellis or is it a rare score to have ?

What are they truly worth ?

I know Sharkaquarium is selling them at $99.99 a pop for 3 inchers. Is that a fair or high price ?

I know I have many questions , but I like to know all I can about what I have.

Thanks for all your anticipated help.

Here he is , my 5 inch Pleiozona
View attachment 822105
View attachment 822106
Click to expand...

Nice looking fish. I'll answer what few questions I can lol.

I'm not sure on size or the exact origin but to my knowledge this is a fairly new species. And by fairly new I mean they started popping up in 2006-2007. They mostly resemble the mono so there's a good chance that yes this is a different version. What sets them apart is what is supposed to be a 4th bar near their caudal fin. Their species name pleoizona is actually Latin for describing the fourth bar that sets this species out. Looks like yours has a 4th bar very faintly, I read these come in a little more prominently towards adulthood. To my knowledge I haven't seen many at all on MFK so it being rare may be possible but I'm sure a more veteran of the site could chime in. Prices really depend on availability so $100 may be a decent price, but I'd say there are better cichla for that price. Like broks, but that's simply opinion. Regardless, good looking fish -- keep us posted.



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So you were the lucky buyer of this fish.I was wondering who had gotten it....I never heard of them untill recently so I figured they were a new find and as for the prices they go for,being a fairly new cichla to the hobby I guess they could be a little pricy.The Sharkaquarium switcheroo didnt sound so good at first but then maybe the lower price was an error to begin with and no one seems to be able to get them right now.....I would like to see what an adult looks like though.
 
hi bro, would like to give my 2 cents on pleiozonas. but don't believe everything i say ayt coz im no ichtyologist or a biologist even. im just a cichla keeper who happen to come across pleiozonas and had the chance to take care of them and see them grow. ill try to answer some of your questions :)

What I want to know is how big do they get ?
-so far my fish are almost 15 inches, the biggest one i mean. i got them at 5 inches november last year.

Are they just a version of monos or a completly different species all together ?
-they look really familiar to the inexperienced hobbyist but ill show you some pics and you be the judge. notice the height, the body shape, the markings, the outline on the bars...
DSC_0242.jpg

here's another pic, there are two monos and two pleiozonas there
DSC_0336-1.jpg

DSC_0318-2.jpg

How rare are they in the hobby ?
i dunno bout almost all if not all pleiozonas that have been available was initially labelled as something else. almost always they were classified as orinos. i dunno im not that sure but one of my theories is that pleiozonas have made their way to rivers where orinos are and are caught with some legit orinos... haha but dont believe me on this one :P

Is it a very common cichla like monos or ocellis or is it a rare score to have ?
i don't think so. not yet at least and i hope not soon. plus beauty wise i really like the look of pleiozonas... very different from monoculus if you see them up close.

What are they truly worth ?
price is very relative. so i cannot answer that... but pleiozonas here in my country have been sold for a premium price. but some small pleiozonas have been sited recently after some people bought some orinos from some petshop... :) almost the same story as to how i got my fish.... mislabelled as orinos.

I know Sharkaquarium is selling them at $99.99 a pop for 3 inchers. Is that a fair or high price ?
check them first if they are legit. maybe a pic would help... but bear in mind alot of monoculus have 4 bars as well... i don't think the fourth bar is the main indicator of a pleiozona anymore... but that's just my opinion once again.


hope i helped out bro... for more pics i recently updated my pleiozona growout thread, seemed right timing when you posted this thread.... have fun with your fish, your see the transformation bro :)
 
darboy said:
hi bro, would like to give my 2 cents on pleiozonas. but don't believe everything i say ayt coz im no ichtyologist or a biologist even. im just a cichla keeper who happen to come across pleiozonas and had the chance to take care of them and see them grow. ill try to answer some of your questions :)

What I want to know is how big do they get ?
-so far my fish are almost 15 inches, the biggest one i mean. i got them at 5 inches november last year.

Are they just a version of monos or a completly different species all together ?
-they look really familiar to the inexperienced hobbyist but ill show you some pics and you be the judge. notice the height, the body shape, the markings, the outline on the bars...
DSC_0242.jpg

here's another pic, there are two monos and two pleiozonas there
DSC_0336-1.jpg

DSC_0318-2.jpg

How rare are they in the hobby ?
i dunno bout almost all if not all pleiozonas that have been available was initially labelled as something else. almost always they were classified as orinos. i dunno im not that sure but one of my theories is that pleiozonas have made their way to rivers where orinos are and are caught with some legit orinos... haha but dont believe me on this one :P

Is it a very common cichla like monos or ocellis or is it a rare score to have ?
i don't think so. not yet at least and i hope not soon. plus beauty wise i really like the look of pleiozonas... very different from monoculus if you see them up close.

What are they truly worth ?
price is very relative. so i cannot answer that... but pleiozonas here in my country have been sold for a premium price. but some small pleiozonas have been sited recently after some people bought some orinos from some petshop... :) almost the same story as to how i got my fish.... mislabelled as orinos.

I know Sharkaquarium is selling them at $99.99 a pop for 3 inchers. Is that a fair or high price ?
check them first if they are legit. maybe a pic would help... but bear in mind alot of monoculus have 4 bars as well... i don't think the fourth bar is the main indicator of a pleiozona anymore... but that's just my opinion once again.


hope i helped out bro... for more pics i recently updated my pleiozona growout thread, seemed right timing when you posted this thread.... have fun with your fish, your see the transformation bro :)
Click to expand...

Damn, i sold a Golden-Goose, those are HOT
 
myself and Lumpyfish have nice plez's as well. mine is about 8" and his are about 7". i like the 4 bars and with a little bit of spangle on them makes them a cool fish that mas mono characteristics but is not a mono if you know your cichla. ill post pics of mine and i know Matt will post some too once he sees this thread. Btw the ones at shark aquarium are real i saw two larger ones in the tank that I know are real but the smaller ones are hard to tell. hope this all helps man. good luck
 
Mr.AzulBass said:
myself and Lumpyfish have nice plez's as well. mine is about 8" and his are about 7". i like the 4 bars and with a little bit of spangle on them makes them a cool fish that mas mono characteristics but is not a mono if you know your cichla. ill post pics of mine and i know Matt will post some too once he sees this thread. Btw the ones at shark aquarium are real i saw two larger ones in the tank that I know are real but the smaller ones are hard to tell. hope this all helps man. good luck
Click to expand...

So, what is my mono?

uploadfromtaptalk1354522104399.jpg

Sent from my DROID RAZR
 
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