are these port acaras ????

[cichlidgirl]

Hi, i got some rescued juvie acaras about six weeks ago. They have settled in nicely now but im having trouble ID them since some have developed red tinted tails and two have yellow tinted tails. They are approx 2 to 2.5 inches now. I have searched the profile pages online for acaras that have a red tinted tail (the color of red wine) I have not found any mention of this or any pics showing it. I have noticed these fish also have developed a blue ventral fins along with the red tails and slight spangling here and there on the fish. I have four of these acara, of the three larger ones 2 of them have the red tails the other one has a yellow tinted tail. The smallest one at a inch and half does not have the red tail, it has a yellow tinted tail. The red tailed ones follow the yellow tailed one everywhere it goes and they flair fins and show off for it , making me suspect the yellow tailed fish is a female. The red tailed ones also will do minor fighting and bickering when around the yellow tailed fish. You can see a bit of the red im talking about in the last two pics. It does not photograph well but is easily seen in person. Any help would be great. Thanks so much.

Here is the washed out pale version . It is hardly ever this color anymore.

 

[darth pike]

I think you are right that they might be one of the port cichlids (they don't appear to be acaras of any type). I don't think they are true ports, ie Cichlasoma portalegrensis due to the partial occelli at the caudal fin. So they appear to either be C. boliviense or C. dimerus due to both their color and that partial occelli. Don't have a guide to tell apart with certainity the 15+ Cichlasoma species. Luckily their size and care are practically identical.

 

[cichlid2006]

possibly a Aequidens plagiozonatus. go here and look at the first pic http://www2.nrm.se/ve/pisces/acara/aequiden.shtml

 

[Jakob]

I would think Red Breast Acaras.. good luck with them.

Jakob.

 

[cichlidgirl]

I took another pic of them today. There are some markings that show up with a flash that didnt before when i took the blue lightbulbs out. Here what do you think ? Now im wondering if i might have two different types. I cant ask who i got them from because they were abandoned fish at a lfs that closed up. Poor things. I studied them closer and two of them have no signs of red on the tails and two do. I have also noticed with fish that have spangles often when viewed from one angle the scales are a certain color and when viewed from the oppisit direction they are a completely different color, so maybe not, im just confusing myself LOL.

 

[darth pike]

Well now I have no idea what they are!

The only acara or port cichlid I know of that has a red tail like that is 'Aequidens' coeruleopunctatus but it deffinately doesn't look like a blue acara.

Might want to try the ID on Cichlid Room Companion forum. Lots of good South American guys there that don't keep monsters.

 

[cichlidgirl]

I think im going to let them grow out a bit more, see if they develop more colors then try again.