cichlid i.d possible Amphilophus macracanthus

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I have never kept macracanthus, and the last time I saw them live in the flesh was almost 20 years ago, so my opinion would hold no credence. Unless I have seriously kept a cichlid, and know for sure I actually had true knowledge it was truly the species, I don't guess.
I have kept minckleyi and bartoni, and it doesn't look like either to me.
I didn't have a camera back when I had minckleyi, but..
Here is bartoni to compare

above a male, below a female
 
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+1, not really a helpful post if you don't elaborate on your reasons or experience?
 
Neither macracanthus nor minkleyi are very common in the hobby. I would be really surprised that someone would just dump one off at the local fish store if that's truly what it is. The pearling on it also says low grade flower horn to me.
 
I can say with complete confidence it's not Macracanthus or Minkleyi. I"ve owned both. As stated in my first post that I also thought it was a low grade Flowerhorn....a hybrid. This primarily just by eyeballing it. It has the characteristics of a few different fish. When I hear it was a trade in...and the LFS didn't know what it was...and you have NO idea on the origin....and it looks like a bunch of other fish...I'm pretty much convinced unless someone has evidence otherwise. Like Duane said....you can't be 100% sure, but as far as my opinion, it's a hybrid for those reasons.
 
Well, they are the only species I thought it resembles so I guess that's as far as we go. I wouldn't personally call it a low grade fh, that is a very loose term on here, it's body shape doesn't resemble a fh at all IMO. Maybe a product of a red Texas attempt but then i would expect it to fade, the grey colour odd that's why I was looking at genuine species...
it's a pretty unique looking hybrid either way so we will see how it progresses, I like a mutt anyhow!-)
Anyone hazard a guess at the species in him, I think Texas and amph of some sort. Maybe it will peel.
 
I've owned both fish in question as well. Macaracanthus has not been in the states in years and I think Mo might have been the last one to own one. Minckleyi also look nothing like this fish although there is a general body shape match I can see. I like where your head is at with the interest in those 2 fish. I've been trying to get some Minckleyi for a while now but to no avail.
 
Accept it's not macracanthus but the fish is not so uncommon in the UK as it is in the states and the op is from the UK.
 
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