ID please... before I do something stupid...

[m1ste2tea]

okay... here is the fish in question...


I purchased this one from a tank at the LFS of just firemouth cichlids, I wanted a female, so I picked out one that had the least red and the shortest anal fin. I was so preoccupied with trying to distinguish the females from the males, that I completely overlooked the fact that it doesnt even resemble a firemouth cichlid.

he was much more pale at the store, had no vertical stripes, and had a spot/dash in the area where most firemouths have their spot on the side of their body.

his body shape, especially the head and the mouth make me think that this is some kind of a jack dempsey.

the vertical stripes make me suspect its a convict hybrid

Ignore the african yellow lab, he's just too small to go in with the rest of the africans, staying here temporarily.




here is my baby firemouth and my EBJD for reference...


I have looked all over the web and this site to find something that exactly matches this fish. So before I go back to the store on friday and throw a hissy fit over it, can someone please verify this fish?

 

[Rara12]

Its a regular jack dempsey

 

[Cdog]

JD

 

[FishingOut]

The vertical barring is from stress. Meeki's and Dempsey's are very different in appearance, How you made that mistake I do not know haha. You did get the female part right, But it is a Jack Dempsey.

 

[m1ste2tea]

The vertical barring is from stress. Meeki's and Dempsey's are very different in appearance, How you made that mistake I do not know haha. You did get the female part right, But it is a Jack Dempsey.

Damn... I guess I'm going back there on friday with my face... made the mistake because I trusted the sign on the tank... I should have known better.

 

[FishDogg]

Appears to be a female Jack Dempsey.

 

[Gatorxxx420]

I'd keep it, it's a female. It could pair up with your EBJD if that turns out to be a male. It looks like it's got potential to be a real nice looking lady.

 

[FishingOut]

Yeah man, I agree with Gator, keep it. She is really nice actually.
You made the same mistake they did. Know the fish before you go and buy it. Its their job to sell fish, Not be fish experts. Even though somebody with cataracts could see the difference

 

[Gatorxxx420]

Yeah man, I agree with Gator, keep it. She is really nice actually.
You made the same mistake they did. Know the fish before you go and buy it. Its their job to sell fish, Not be fish experts. Even though somebody with cataracts could see the difference

LOL! Be nice now, I'm sure there are people that make bigger mistakes. Like the ladies that go buy Oscars cuz they're "cute" and only have a 30 gallon tank. Then can't figure out why her guppies and mollies start disappearing when this O gets huge. But to the OP... I'd keep her. Could be a good mistake...

 

[m1ste2tea]

Yeah man, I agree with Gator, keep it. She is really nice actually.
You made the same mistake they did. Know the fish before you go and buy it. Its their job to sell fish, Not be fish experts. Even though somebody with cataracts could see the difference

hmmm... I never considered buying a jack dempsey(except the blue one) and I didn't know what were their distinctive characteristics... so if this is a nice specimen then I guess I'll plan to keep it.