Cichlasoma ornatum???

[dogofwar]

From the Cichlid Room Companion:

Type locality: Río Durango, northwestern Ecuador (Pacific slope).
Distribution: exCichlasoma ornatum occurs in the Río Patia drainage south of the Río San Juan and also in some coastal rivers further south in Colombia and Ecuador.

Ummm ... if it is from the Rio San Juan, then I doubt they are ornatum. Ornatum are a west coast species, only previously found in the Patia River in Colombia in the extreme southwest of Colombia as well as mostly in Ecuador. That's on the other side of the continental divide from the Rio San Juan.

They might be a closely related undescribed realitive, but I don't think any species is successful enough to cross the Andes, even if they hired a shirpa.

cchcc - Mel got his from Oliver via our LFS ...


PS - They closely related exCichlasoma atromaculatum is from the Rio San Juan, which looks like a more sharp nosed ornatum in shape, minus the spangles but with blotches instead. Less colorful, but very cool.

 

[dogofwar]

Ornatum seem to have a spot on the upper caudal peduncle... as well as spots / squiggles on the face.

The fish in the picture has neither...

Matt

Interesting. I don't see the same thing in pantos all the time. Several pics over on Juan Miguel's site that show them without spots or the scaleless patch (though the latter is tough to see I'm sure).

 

[Mel O]

Those photos are definitely not Ornatum. I will post a new YouTube video on a pair (?) I have recently moved to a 270 gallon tank with Festae later tonight. They have gotten much more aggressive/outgoing in the bigger tank with their sister species. Their color is getting quite nice and they are putting on size....

 

[stuckinthemiddle]

What's the collection location for the "ornatum"?

Ira ever reply to this?

 

[Lupin]

Keep up with the offtopic posts that should not be here and they will be dealt with accordingly. Enough of the vendor complaints. PM the staff if you have issues with vendors here. Thanks.

 

[dogofwar]

Ira ever reply to this?

no - it would help in identifying the fish in question...

Matt

 

[flowerpower]

Amazing adult wild caught cichlasoma ornatum in limited numbers available next week, more details to follow.

I guess we all can't wait.

 

[bud]

I cant wait to get my hand on this guys

 

[dogofwar]

Any ideas on what they actually are?

The posted picture's not very good...

Any input on how they were identified as C. ornatum?

Some have taken offense at such questions... but if, for example, Mel or other people keeping bonafide C. ornatum want to broaden the bloodline of the ornatum that they keep, making sure that the fish that they add to their stock are actually C. ornatum (and from the same watershed / collection location) is pretty darn important.

Matt

Those photos are definitely not Ornatum. I will post a new YouTube video on a pair (?) I have recently moved to a 270 gallon tank with Festae later tonight. They have gotten much more aggressive/outgoing in the bigger tank with their sister species. Their color is getting quite nice and they are putting on size....

 

[cchhcc]

I cant wait to get my hand on this guys

Hey Bud, long time no type!

Do you have any background info on these fish? I know you deal with Don regularly. Please post any information here so everyone can see it.