What species of cichlid are these?

[eungkot]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I need help identifying the species of these fish. I bought them from the same store and from the same tank. The store owner told me they are some type of veijas. Look like they are from the same breeding batch. I have had them for 3 weeks and they are now about 2 inches. When I first bought them, the darker one (on the left) was about 1.5x bigger in the size than the brighter one, but now they look like about the same size. I guess the brighter one grows faster because it does eat more. However, the darker one does eat algae from the rocks. Both have a bit different diet, and their poops are different also. For now I am keeping them in a 55 gallon tank. They seem to get along, but the darker one seems more aggressive and dominant. The brighter one was so shy at first, but now becoming more active across the tank. Questions:



1) Are they really veijas?

2) If they are, which species of veijas?

3) Can you tell whether they are male or female?



Let me know if you need more info or pictures. Let me know on how to better take care of them. Fully appreciated.

- Raja Eungkot

 

[duanes]

They look to be, at least partically to have some Vieja in them.
With all the amateurs hybridizing its very hard to tell.
These are just juvies, and most Vieja reach between 10 to 15 inches so trying too tell gender is usually an inposibility ate thehis time,

Above is a V bifasciatta, at the time if the pic it was sl1gtly over 12 :
Below V breidhlori male, at about 6" (left) right a female slightly smaller


Below unsexable V melanura about 4"

 

[eungkot]

They look to be, at least partically to have some Vieja in them.
With all the amateurs hybridizing its very hard to tell.
These are just juvies, and most Vieja reach between 10 to 15 inches so trying too tell gender is usually an inposibility ate thehis time,
View attachment 1562460
Above is a V bifasciatta, at the time if the pic it was sl1gtly over 12 :
Below V breidhlori male, at about 6" (left) right a female slightly smaller
View attachment 1562461View attachment 1562462

Below unsexable V melanura about 4"

View attachment 1562463

Thanks for the reply. Looks like I have to wait. I don't know how long to reach at least 6". Just have to ride the mysteries I guess.
I love the color of your bifasciatta, and the horn of male breidhlori looks amazing.
Do you keep all of them in one tank?

 

[duanes]

I usually to keep no more 2 per 6ft tank, as adults.
And as far as growth goes, it usually depend on water changes.
With a water change of 25% per week, It will grow slower than a 50% water change, per week.
Or slower than two 50% water changes, etc etc etc.
My normal water change routine is 30% to 40% every other day. and to hold nitrate down between water changes, I use a large planted sump as filtratioin.
Here is an example of the 125 gal sump,

And here is an average API nitrate test.

To me, the biggest inhabitor to growth are nitrate concentrations of over 5 ppm, and the gorwth inhibitig hormone thjat accompany elevated nitrate.
At the moment I am concentrating on Isthmoheroa tuyresus, in the 6 ft tank, filtered by the sump above.


At the moment they are only 6 inch juvies, so more than a pair of cichlids, per tank.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I need help identifying the species of these fish. I bought them from the same store and from the same tank. The store owner told me they are some type of veijas. Look like they are from the same breeding batch. I have had them for 3 weeks and they are now about 2 inches. When I first bought them, the darker one (on the left) was about 1.5x bigger in the size than the brighter one, but now they look like about the same size. I guess the brighter one grows faster because it does eat more. However, the darker one does eat algae from the rocks. Both have a bit different diet, and their poops are different also. For now I am keeping them in a 55 gallon tank. They seem to get along, but the darker one seems more aggressive and dominant. The brighter one was so shy at first, but now becoming more active across the tank. Questions:



1) Are they really veijas?

2) If they are, which species of veijas?

3) Can you tell whether they are male or female?



Let me know if you need more info or pictures. Let me know on how to better take care of them. Fully appreciated.

- Raja Eungkot

View attachment 1562443

Welcome aboard

 

[newworld]

With that color and size im sure hybrids…

 

[eungkot]

I usually to keep no more 2 per 6ft tank, as adults.
And as far as growth goes, it usually depend on water changes.
With a water change of 25% per week, It will grow slower than a 50% water change, per week.
Or slower than two 50% water changes, etc etc etc.
My normal water change routine is 30% to 40% every other day. and to hold nitrate down between water changes, I use a large planted sump as filtratioin.
Here is an example of the 125 gal sump,
View attachment 1562465
And here is an average API nitrate test.
View attachment 1562466
To me, the biggest inhabitor to growth are nitrate concentrations of over 5 ppm, and the gorwth inhibitig hormone thjat accompany elevated nitrate.
At the moment I am concentrating on Isthmoheroa tuyresus, in the 6 ft tank, filtered by the sump above.
View attachment 1562467
View attachment 1562468
At the moment they are only 6 inch juvies, so more than a pair of cichlids, per tank.

Looks like I have to learn to use those API nitrate test. So you use planted aquarium as a filtration? What a cool idea! But how do you keep the water clear though..? I am all about naturals to be honest, as long as the fish are healthy and as suited to their natural environment, I don't mind what the color of water should be.

 

[eungkot]

Welcome aboard

Thanks

 

[eungkot]

With that color and size im sure hybrids…

So hybrids good or bad? I am just worry if they are, then they might get sick or something due to weak hybrid genes. I don't know, am I wrong?

 

[duanes]

So hybrids good or bad? I

This ia a phylosophical discussion we must all have, especially these days.
Your LFS probalby in all conscience was unable to say what type Vieja it had, because it couldn;t be sure
Some people like hybrids.
To me hybrids are not legitmate species, they are mutts.
To me, no matter how much you polish it, a turd is still a turd.
But I go further
To me a real JD is real, an EBJD is a turd.
BPs, are all turds.
A blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher) is a species, EB acaras are turds.
But I go further, Astronotus oscars are real species,those man induced lemons, long fins, blues, super reds, are all fake turds (even if they aren't hybrids)
Am I opinioated enough?
One of the reasons I moved to Panama to collect my own cichlids, was because my lack of trust, that just about any fish sold these days is a mutt
In reality, I don't care hybrid or not. If anyone else, wants, or likes them at all.
Just not for me.
It just ticks me off that legitimate, actual true species have become so hard to get, it seems they are becoming extinct in favor of of cartoons FHs.