Severum ID suggestions

[JDCichlid]

Sold to my brother as a red shoulder severum (rotkiel/efasciatum hybrid possibly) and then given to me. It’s only a couple inches. Do pure rotkiels have a half third bar like this typically? Just trying to ID this guy. I know Heros severus have a half bar, but can other species as well? Never seen this in any of my efasciatus. View attachment 1513316

 

[JDCichlid]

 

[tlindsey]

View attachment 1513317

ryansmith83

 

[neutrino]

Sold to my brother as a red shoulder severum (rotkiel/efasciatum hybrid possibly) and then given to me. It’s only a couple inches. Do pure rotkiels have a half third bar like this typically?

Normally, no. And normally rotkeil should have 8 bars not 9, though (like some other cichlids, including other Heros) some can have split bars, an extra bar, or a partial bar. I notice that a couple of the other bars aren't especially clean, so imo at that small size it's hard to say whether you have a hybrid (not unusual) or a rotkeil with messy bars.

Does it have the same bars on both sides?

 

[ryansmith83]

Small H. severus do not have solid orange/red pelvic fins, so this is probably a misbarred H. rotkeil which are very common now that rotkeil have become commonplace in the hobby. They used to be 8-bar fish but a lot of the domestics are now 9-bar fish or misbarred.

 

[JDCichlid]

Normally, no. And normally rotkeil should have 8 bars not 9, though (like some other cichlids, including other Heros) some can have split bars, an extra bar, or a partial bar. I notice that a couple of the other bars aren't especially clean, so imo at that small size it's hard to say whether you have a hybrid (not unusual) or a rotkeil with messy bars.

Does it have the same bars on both sides?

Yep looks the same on both sides. And thanks for the help I didn’t know any of that.

 

[JDCichlid]

Small H. severus do not have solid orange/red pelvic fins, so this is probably a misbarred H. rotkeil which are very common now that rotkeil have become commonplace in the hobby. They used to be 8-bar fish but a lot of the domestics are now 9-bar fish or misbarred.

Thanks!