Cichlid ID???

[tpaquarist17]

Today I came home to two Buenos Aires tetras missing. He is much more yellow today and open, he follows me around the tank. As soon as quarantine is up the Buenos Aires tetras will he moved into my 75g community tank and he will remain here until I get a 40b started up for him

 

[tpaquarist17]

Update: I am still unsure what exactly this little guy is. My guess would be bifasciatus or melanura. No matter what he is, he has a great personality and is starting to interact more. I need to get him in a tank that I can access him easier at. As of right now he’s in a quarantine setup under a larger tank.

 

[Niki_up]

Update: I am still unsure what exactly this little guy is. My guess would be bifasciatus or melanura. No matter what he is, he has a great personality and is starting to interact more. I need to get him in a tank that I can access him easier at. As of right now he’s in a quarantine setup under a larger tank.
View attachment 1411527View attachment 1411528View attachment 1411529View attachment 1411530

I think you might have a melanura there. I also think it might end up looking like this one....note this is not my picture, I got it from Facebook

 

[tpaquarist17]

Niki_up with his bright yellows at such I young age, I hope he’d turn out better than that. But who knows, I’ll keep him for awhile and get rid of him if he doesn’t turn out looking good. I’ve found pictures of both melanura and bifasciata that look like him

melanura:

the spot line on the tail extending about 1/3 of the way up the body, and in certain light you can see black under the dorsal and blue on the anal and pelvic fins.

Bifasciata:

yellow coloration on the tail fin, thin orange seam on top of dorsal(which mine has), linear line coming up dorsal.

it’s a hard decision, I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out. I highly doubt he’ll be high quality but he’s a pretty little guy as of right now

 

[Niki_up]

Niki_up with his bright yellows at such I young age, I hope he’d turn out better than that. But who knows, I’ll keep him for awhile and get rid of him if he doesn’t turn out looking good. I’ve found pictures of both melanura and bifasciata that look like him

melanura:
View attachment 1411542
the spot line on the tail extending about 1/3 of the way up the body, and in certain light you can see black under the dorsal and blue on the anal and pelvic fins.

Bifasciata:
View attachment 1411543
yellow coloration on the tail fin, thin orange seam on top of dorsal(which mine has), linear line coming up dorsal.

it’s a hard decision, I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out. I highly doubt he’ll be high quality but he’s a pretty little guy as of right now

That is a nice mel in that pic! I can only hope yours turns out just as nice!
To me your fish is too clean looking to be a bif....no real face or fin spotting, yours has nice smooth colours.

I am growing 3 out right now and they look completely different than yours...mine are not nearly as nice

 

[tpaquarist17]

Niki_up i don’t know if you read from the beginning of this thread or not, but this guy came into my lfs with a group of firemouth! He was pitch black, I bought him because I had never seen a ***** black cichlid like him, he obviously wasn’t a firemouth but the owner sold him to me as one for $5!

 

[tpaquarist17]

*pitch

 

[Niki_up]

Niki_up i don’t know if you read from the beginning of this thread or not, but this guy came into my lfs with a group of firemouth! He was pitch black, I bought him because I had never seen a ***** black cichlid like him, he obviously wasn’t a firemouth but the owner sold him to me as one for $5!

I have been reading I’m following bc I want to know what he turns out like as an adult...I like threads that follow a cichlid from juvie to adult.

you got him for a steal!!! I paid about $45 CAD for 3 one inchers haha

 

[tpaquarist17]

Well, I just ordered 6 wc Midas x Vieja Fenestradas this afternoon off of Aquabid. Those are the guys I’m also excited about. They might just get sold off though. This little guy is becoming personable and I like it, he might get his own 75g and be a single wet pet. Fish can always change with maturity though, we will see

 

[Stanzzzz7]

The fish is veija melanura. They are large and active. Males can reach around 16 inches. I had a pair that were not quite fully grown. They made my 210 gallon look small and inadequate.