African identification.

[bobtatersaladsmith]

I got this fish from the assorted tank at Petsmart. I usually try to stay away from that tank and Petsmart in general, but this particular fish caught my eye. Can anyone help me i.d. this fish? I am pretty sure that he is a male due to his flash of colors and vertical bars when he gets aggressive. He is the dominate fish of the tank. Sorry about the crappy picture quality, my phone is the only camera that I have. :/

 

[bobtatersaladsmith]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[squege56]

it looks like a hybrid of what im not exactly sure

 

[COG Commando]

Is the fish as dark in real life as it is in the pictures?? It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it could be a Pseudotropheus elongatus 'chitimba'.

 

[Brooks74]

it looks like a hybrid of what im not exactly sure

Just curious How can you say it looks like a hybrid but not know of what?

 

[bobtatersaladsmith]

COG Commando, he is almost black when he doesnt feel threatened. The dark-dark-blue fades, however, when he is displaying dominance. That is when his vertical lines come out. It is almost like all of the dark blue fades int o an icy blue except for the vertical bars.

 

[Mokujin22]

Face, body shape and thick vertical bars say some sort of mbuna.

 

[COG Commando]

Based upon the head and body shape, I'd say it has to be either Metriaclima or Pseudotropheus. A sharper image would help though. Are the tips of its caudal, anal, and dorsal fin yellow??

 

[bobtatersaladsmith]

They are orangish red. His entire back 1/3 becomes a nice tint of orange when he starts brawls with the other fish. Really sorry about the picture quality. I have no other camera on hand :/

 

[bobtatersaladsmith]

I moved him to my 5 gal quarantine, which he immediately proceeded to kick crap around in. (the lighting was way better in the quarantine tank) He was still stressed from the move so his bars were clearly evident. The orange however was not very evident at all. Hope the better pictures help.