Amphilophus sp.'Red Isletas'

[flowerpower]

I got these guys a few years back when this guys were first becoming available. Still not sure where they stand as far as an official species name is concerned (or whether they are a species of their own in the first place).
But anyway, here are some pictures of my pair. They recently took a beating from my dovii pair and have since been moved to another tank. The made themselves right at home and are wasting no time at making more babies.

 

[Aquanero]

Very nice one of my favorite Amphilophus. I'm not sure either, I think they are like a sub species of Citronelus or a local variant. Good question I don't know but someone will tell us.

 

[caribemob]

Wow Ed the red on the males hump and face is just crazy bro

 

[flowerpower]

Thanks fellas! Tom, I'm starting to think that these may be no more that a local variant as well.

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Jeff Rapps is the only person to import these. This is what he posted about them a while back. Pretty much exactly what he told me about the fish when I bought them from him:

Thanks for asking about the 'Isletas' species.
The first and only import of these fish consisted of several individuals that were found by my collector in a shallow, marshy area behind a large island on Lago Nicaragua. I'm sorry, but I do not know the name of the island.

His remarks upon collection of these fish were that they inhabited waters that are not occupied by citrinellus. As the citrinellus tend to be seen in the deeper water, often associated with rocky habitats, he was surprised to find this type of fish in muddy, shallow, heavily vegetated waters.

Furthermore, he observed that all sizes of this fish (from juveniles to adolescents to large adults) were to be found within this same habitat and not outside this immediate marshy area.

With this information noted, he remarked to me that I should not mix this fish with any of the other Amphilophus species that I was importing at that time. These fish had apparently come to colonize a specific habitat that was otherwise not utilized by other Amphilophus in the lake.

All specimens collected were of the barred pattern and no xanthic individuals were seen.
To my knowledge, no meristic data has even been gathered or documented on these fish. No further research that I am aware of exists to further document this race of Amphilophus.
The fish was dubbed 'Isletas' to indicate it's first and only collection as associated with an island.

Here are some photos I took of the first imports several years ago.
I believe the top photo was also featured in a 'What's New' section of Cichlid News some time ago as well.

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They're great fish, as all amphilophus are, but having so little info after all this time is a bit discouraging.

Kareef, the red comes and goes. There was a time when it was very intense on the female but most of the time they look like any other barred amphilophus. I have yet to see a captive bred specimen with red like the ones in the photos. If I remember correctly, Jeff attributes this to their diet in the wild.
I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that this 'species' will always be more valuable to me the most others. 0 appeal on these guys apparently

 

[Aquanero]

These guys are awsome, the other Amphilophus guys weren't around today so far but I bet you'll hear from them. Thanks for posting the info I thought they were a localized version, it's interestiong how they adopted to utilize a niche that wasn't otherwise occupied.

 

[jiant2520]

Here is my male. I got him from Rapps last July or so he is about 7-8". The only time his face gets red is when he is matching up with another fish... other than that you have to look real close at his chin to see any "red". Great fish though... I'll never get rid of him!!!

 

[Anubisscott]

Looking great. One feature I have noticed with these guys, is that their is a slight buldge acrossed their snout almost from eye to eye Seems to become more pronounced as they get older(mainly males) and definently makes it easy to identify them from Barred Citrinellus.

 

[baldtaxguy]

Nice pair, they look great.

I'm likely picking up a group from Jeff next month.

 

[danny2875]

Well I have both Citrinellus and Isletas in the same tank and you can see some differences in the species. To me my male Isletas has a taller head profile and they seem to grow extremely long trailers. I have a pair from Rapps also. His red comes and goes. It also gets intense when he is spawning with the female. in my opinion i think the citrinellus is a bit more aggressive than the Isletas. Granted to each his own with fish personality but I had several of these species and the Cits are the aggressors.

 

[xinchavoc]

my male that died may he R.I.P