Cute little guy, or gal?

[esoxlucius]

I went to my LFS a few weeks ago and there was a tankful of these little guys just in. They were in quarantine so weren't for sale.

I went this morning for a couple of female red rainbows for my horny three males and just thought i'd take a peek at the little guys who were in quarantine last time I went. Well it had to happen didn't it. They'd all been sold barring one! He was all alone. What can you do?

So, I want to introduce you to my new little pal. First off, what species is this, it's not that difficult I don't think, just maybe a bit tricky because it's so small, about 2". For the clever clogs amongst you can you sex it for me?

The photo is from the front because it has a marking on its side that will give the game away.

 

[Niki_up]

Looks like a baby Oscar to me....?

 

[Fishnerd360]

Chocolate cichlid?

 

[esoxlucius]

Chocolate cichlid?

Bingo. I said it was quite straightforward. Here's a side pic showing the characteristic spot which would have made it even easier.

Any thoughts on gender looking at the side view, or am I going to have to wait and see if the nuchal hump develops?

 

[esoxlucius]

This little fish has made itself right at home. He's just polished off a chopped up worm, check that belly out! It's all over the tank exploring, and best of all check out the colour now it's settled in. So much better than the earlier two pics when I just put it in. It's going to be a stunner by the looks of it.

I'm going to turn this thread into a grow out thread for it, i'll update every few months. It's in my little 10g planted tank at the min. Further down the line it'll go in my 180g com tank, and eventually when it gets towards the 10-12" mark it may well go in my 360g.



Oh, and a special shout out to FINWIN . It was her gorgeous colour morphing chocolate cichlid which got me looking at these fish.

 

[Nilsafeller]

Is that a temp? Or cory?

 

[esoxlucius]

Is that a temp? Or cory?

It was sold as a temperalis but I realise they are similar to the cory. Why you ask? Do you see more cory in it, or is it too early to tell at this stage?

 

[Nilsafeller]

Really just a question.. I think too early to tell... right now looks more arrow shape like cory but I'm no expert and like you said it's only a couple inches... this is temp at 2.5 inches... maybe he looks like yours... identification is always hard for me and they both look so similar Imo



Also spot is bleow lateral line... I had read somewhere they differ in that regard.. not sure myself

 

[esoxlucius]

Just a bit of an update on this little fella/gal (chocolate cichlid). I've had it about a month and a half now, still in my little Q tank though I want to beef it up a little more yet before adding it to my 180g. It was about 2" when I got it, it is now about 3" and more filled out. It's eating everything I offer, though has a preference for small live worms from my worm heap.

Anybody any guesses on gender or is it still too small?

 

[esoxlucius]

Just a quick update on my chocolate cichlid, hypselacara temperalis. Last time I posted it was in a small quarantine tank. It's since been moved to my planted 180g. It's about 6" now, is feeding well, gets on with all its tankmates and doesn't even look at my plants.

At one point there was a niggling doubt in my mind that it wasn't a true choc, and that I had the hypselacara coryphaenoides instead, the chocs smaller cousin. The doubt came from the position of the large spot on it flank. In true chocs the spot is on or below the lateral line. In coryphaenoides it is on or above the lateral line. For a time the spot on mine seemed to be above the lateral line indicating it could be a coryphaenoides, but over time it is clear now that it is in fact below, so is indeed a true choc. Phew, lol.

At the moment it is showing just drab light to dark browns and olive greens, none of the colour morphs that they exhibit from time to time, but it is still a juvenile, so there's time.

Here it is. I'd love to know what sex it is if anyone can tell.