Festivum with dark vertical bands.

[Pile_O_Rocks]

My Festivum has dark bands that vertically run around his body that are showing 90% of the time but at different intensities. I’ve been told that they are communication marks which can mean many different things, just like a baby crying. They are always eating and will beg and surf the glass asking for food and just generally outgoing. I’ll attach photos

 

[Pile_O_Rocks]

 

[duanes]

There are at least 7 species of Mesonauta that are sold as Festivums, and more may be discovered as time goes by.
Yours could be M. acora, they seem to sport heavier bands, but I defer to anyone more knowledgable than I about them. It has been years since I kept Mesonauta, and back then they were all thought to be one species.

 

[Backfromthedead]

I dunno, but nice looking fish!

 

[ryansmith83]

They will take on this color as camouflage, when in breeding dress, or in fright pattern. Usually if they’re comfortable and dominant they will lose the bars and just show their horizontal black stripe on a solid body. It looks like your tank has a dark background. Do you also have dark substrate? If so they are probably trying to blend in. What size is the tank and what is the rest of your stock?

 

[Pile_O_Rocks]

They will take on this color as camouflage, when in breeding dress, or in fright pattern. Usually if they’re comfortable and dominant they will lose the bars and just show their horizontal black stripe on a solid body. It looks like your tank has a dark background. Do you also have dark substrate? If so they are probably trying to blend in. What size is the tank and what is the rest of your stock?

I have light substrate and it’s a 90 gallon that currently has nothing in it but a spotted Raphael Catfish, 5 Rummynose terras (soon to be rehomed) and the Festivum. Lots of wood and caves and rocks. 4 types of Anubias, windelov fern, Java Moss, 3 Cryptocoryne and Marimo Balls.

 

[Zanzag]

Definantly much heavier banding than mine usually sport. I'd say about half the time mine is showing its bars. Mine are towards the bottom of the cichlid pecking order in my tank though.