Identifying Specific C. Saxatilis

[Dreamsing]

I met a lovely pike cichlid at my favorite pet store recently. She is labeled as a White-spotted Pike Cichlid and her scientific name is listed as Crenicichla saxatilis.

I wanted to be sure of what I was bringing home before getting her. The lady at the store said she would get about about 46 cm long (18 inches). When I did some research online the fish they have does not look like a White-spotted Pike Cichlid and I would like some advice on identifying her.

I don't have a picture but here's as detailed of a description as I can provide:

- Currently 6" long
- Dark brown almost gray, both the dorsal and ventral sides of the fish are the same color and shade
- 6 to 8 bright white spots between the eye and the top of the mouth
- 3 to 5 bright white spots on the tourso between the dorsal and pectoral fin
- Faint, off-white, circle of dots on the caudal fin
- Dark eyes, no bright or distinctive colors visible on or around the eyes
- No stripes or lateral lines
- No patterns in the spots between the dorsal and pectoral fins
- No markings or color variations on the dorsal, pectoral, or anal fins

I'd really appreciate any help you can give me in identifying this fish.

 

[VRWC]

Crenicichla albopunctata possibly? its a dwarf species.

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Crenicichla&species=albopunctata&id=722

 

[Dreamsing]

Crenicichla albopunctata possibly? its a dwarf species.

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Crenicichla&species=albopunctata&id=722

I did consider that, but she is already the adult size of that species and doesn't have the lateral line or the distinctive marking between the dorsal and pectoral fins. The head shape is more streamlined as well.

In all honesty she looks a lot like the picture that Schnauzer posted of a red pike/johanna pike (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134800) without the red markings and with the addition of bright white spots as described in my previous post.

 

[darth pike]

Sax-type pikes are close to impossible to ID sometimes even with a good picture, trying to do it without one might actually be considered impossible. Still, you might want to have this moved to the Crenicichla folder so one of the sax experts can take a stab at it.

 

[Dreamsing]

Sax-type pikes are close to impossible to ID sometimes even with a good picture, trying to do it without one might actually be considered impossible. Still, you might want to have this moved to the Crenicichla folder so one of the sax experts can take a stab at it.

I've started another thread where you suggested with the addition of pictures.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Dreamsing]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3831083#post3831083

If anyone's interested