ID wanted

[fisker]

Could anybody ID this cichlid ?

 

[straitjacketstar]

Looks like what typtically passes for M. estherae these days. I have my reservations on what they actually are but it's what you're like to hear most of.

 

[fisker]

Where are the specialists ?

 

[SinisterKisses]

One of them already answered you. I can't do anything other than restate what she's already told you.

 

[tattieboggle]

looks like a female metriaclima msobo magunga going by the head shape definatly not estherae

 

[fisker]

Only thing I know is, that the genus ist PETROTILAPIA...

 

[StripeGirl]

We agree a petrotilapia species,could even be a cross.

 

[fisker]

Wildcaught cross... ?

 

[blacktip]

I'm no expert on Petrotilapia, but it looks like pictures of juvi Petrotilapia sp. "small blue" from Nkhata Bay. Do you have the collection location?

 

[straitjacketstar]

Could you get a better shot of the mouth/teeth of the fish?
It's more of a possibility that the fish could be a M. sp. "msobo Magunga" which I considered but doubted.

This is the only instance I've seen where a "cherry red" variety of "M. estherae" was given a location name. I tend to believe that they are not a naturally occurring variety.
http://www.edas.com.au/Gallery-African-Red-Zeb-fem.jpg

All the Petro sp. "Small Blue" I've ever seen show faint hints of barring (this would apply to young fish and adult females). Does your fish ever show any type of barring?