Has anyone ever seen inverted colors like this on a cichlid?

[Man-made Monsters]

Normally, during breeding or territorial disputes, Carpintis split their body colors with their face turning white and the back half of their body turns black. This 3.0-3.5 inch has those colors inverted. Front black and back white. Anyone ever experience one of their cichlids do anything like this??

 

[neutrino]

Have a wild Heros that does something like that, not something I've seen from other Heros, including wild. Or did... the funny thing is I put him in a different tank a couple of weeks ago-- exact same water, etc. and no change in the rest of his behavior, still pushes driftwood around, still chases an A. metae but pays no attention to plecos or geos, still shakes his head at me when he's hungry, but hasn't done the color change since, at least not yet.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Have a wild Heros that does something like that, not something I've seen from other Heros, including wild. Or did... the funny thing is I put him in a different tank a couple of weeks ago-- exact same water, etc. and no change in the rest of his behavior, still pushes driftwood around, still chases an A. metae but pays no attention to plecos or geos, still shakes his head at me when he's hungry, but hasn't done the color change since, at least not yet.

So I know I have been told about some cichlids that have genetic pigmentation issues. Others have said that injuries to the spine would cause parts of the fish’s body to turn black but still move and function. I doubt my Carpintis is injured. I’m wondering if this one 3.0 incher I have has a genetic pigment issue. The inverted black and white is so interesting and different. I can’t tell if I like it or don’t. Ha.

 

[ryansmith83]

A lot of SA cichlids can invert their colors, especially the chromatophores that make up the vertical stress bars. Good examples are Pterophyllum altum and heckel discus, which invert their bars sometimes when stressed, sleeping, etc.

 

[neutrino]

Ryan has a good point, I've seen it a lot in Pterophylum (angelfish) and in some discus, but not sure if that's what's happening with your carpintis. Is he staying the same all the time?

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Ryan has a good point, I've seen it a lot in Pterophylum (angelfish) and in some discus, but not sure if that's what's happening with your carpintis. Is he staying the same all the time?

I have never kept discus or any South American cichlid so all this info on them inverting their colors is new to me. This Carpintis spends time in normal coloration and then as the other smaller Carpintis approaches the divider it displays the color in my post picture. It hates this other Carpintis with every bone in its body. It has tried to kill this other fish from the time they were .5 inches in 180 gallon tank with many other young Melanura. Another piece of info I should have probably shared is that I bought these two from a long time friend and hobbyist who imported a group of them from Thailand. So maybe the line breeding for pearls has resulted in this weird color inversion.

 

[duanes]

With more info now given, this makes more sense. Changing color when at the divider would be quite normal.
All cichlids can display different colors according to mood, substrate and status, and of course line breeding deviations.
But in this instance it sounds like its trying to assert territorial dominance and/or alfa status display, the darker the most alfa.

All 3 photos above are the same carpintus in different moods
Below different aggressive moods of Chuco intermedia

Below color changes according to moods, and status in Australoheros sp "red Ceibal"
Drastic color changes in many cichlids in any direction, is common.

 

[RD.]

I own a male H. carpintis that is now several yrs old. When he was younger and in spawning mode, he displayed typical coloration - light/white up front, black in the back. Today that same fish in spawning mode only displays a black mask, like Zorro. But I agree with Duane, yours is simply displaying alpha male dominant coloration towards his rival on the other side of the divider.

 

[neutrino]

I have never kept discus or any South American cichlid so all this info on them inverting their colors is new to me.

Yes, some cichlids simply go dark or display their (so-called) stress bars or facial or chin markings, etc. But some invert their colors.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Oh yes I’m totally aware of how cichlids change their color based on mood and asserting dominance or breeding. Great pics duanes and thanks for sharing. Your advise and level of expertise pertaining to the cichlid world is pure awesomeness. I have owned many different Carpintis since 2003 when my obsession with them started, but have never seen one with reversed colors of black on the face and white on its back half. RD. thanks for sharing about your “Zorro” mask wearing male. That’s interesting that his breeding dress changed from a typical white face and black back body to a black mask. Makes my fish not seem so odd. If anyone else has non typical colored cichlids from Central America feel free to share pics or your experience.