ID please

[duanes]

There are 16 valid species of Cichla, in S America and some are restricted to quite small localities.
It might help narrow things down by knowing catch location, if caught in SA.
Otherwise the distinctions could be as small as number of spots (or the lack thereof) on the anal fin, or count of bars below the dorsal.
If "not" caught in SA but some other spot where feral Cichla are common (Florida, Panama, etc etc) the possibility of a hybrid is always there.

 

[favian13]

Temensis have different gradings. Grade 1 is covered in spots, while grade 4 has no spots at all. Grade 2 and 3 are in the middle with 2 having more spots than 3 but less spots than 1.

It is just a spectrum of how many spots a temensis has.

There is no such thing. Now if you are talking about location they may differ in color, spotting, etc. ok thats like saying a monoculus that has 2 bars is a grade 4 and a monoculus with 3 bars is grade 1??

 

[bassinmike85]

 

[favian13]

View attachment 1453232

That is the stage of growth not grade like azul's,and kels change as they grow

 

[Polypterus_36]

That is the stage of growth not grade like azul's,and kels change as they grow

I have to disagree. It represents different localities of temensis. Isolated groups develop different traits. We just grade them in the hobby to show the level of spots.?

 

[kno4te]

Think you guys forgot grade 5 when it’s fully evolved.

 

[Polypterus_36]

Think you guys forgot grade 5 when it’s fully evolved.
View attachment 1453259

No, that looks like a grade 6 if I have ever seen one! ?

 

[favian13]

I have to disagree. It represents different localities of temensis. Isolated groups develop different traits. We just grade them in the hobby to show the level of spots.?

I agree about the locality but still never heard of grades and what about the one's from Venezuela they have the most spangling if im not mistaken ?

 

[Polypterus_36]

I agree about the locality but still never heard of grades and what about the one's from Venezuela they have the most spangling if im not mistaken ?

The grading is super confusing. Like I said, I am no Cichla expert. I just heard it being thrown around sometimes.
Here is a site about the grading: https://www.researchgate.net/figure...sed-to-group-live-specimens-in_fig1_267752121
I don't know if this site is creditable though, but the information seems helpful.

 

[CichlaRyan]

It's definitely C. Temensis in spawning colors, locals refer to this phase as "açú" ("paca" is the non-spawning colors we see more commonly). I personally have never seen Temensis in breeding colors in a hobbyist setting.