Is this Ornatus?!

[Mateomedina]

After stumbling across a few pics of this fish i gotta say im pretty impressed. But after seeing a few other pics i am confused though. I have seen ornatus with broken striping on the body on some of the fish that are less defined, and in some pics i see solid well defined striping that remind me of a festae but the fish is yellow. My question is, is this Ornatus or some other species? If it is ornatus then is it from a specific collection point? Would love to get into this fish eiter way but would preferably like to have it more similar to the fish in the picture.\

Also here is a forum that discusses it a little bit http://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9633

 

[BlesOne]

Looks festae...

 

[fishman09]

ornatum and festae are very closely related. thats a very nice female ornatum. this coloration is more of a breeding or when the fish is posturing. ornatum are a very overhyped fish that arent very personable, grow super super slow and have yet to breed in an aquarium and produce f1s for the hobby

 

[Mateomedina]

really? what makes them not so personable??

 

[fishman09]

that would be a question for the ornatum as i have no idea. just a very dissapointing species from what ive seen. i kept one for 3 months that grew maybe an 1/8" in that time

 

[dovii 1]

Very drab, dull fish unless breeding or defending "SORRY"

 

[freebyrd]

I have to disagree

This male dominates a 125g with authority i had to seperate him from the other male and female i have hes nuts

 

[Jc1119]

Thats a cool looking fish......I've never owned one but pics like your make me want to.

 

[Cichlidfever]

They are slow growers, while young they can be boring, but if you have patience they can grow up to be very nice just like freebyrd's . I had 4 which colored up nicely. I lost two of them due two having them in a community tank with a breeding pair of Escondido. They grew up together until my pair of Escondidos started breeding. I miss my dominate male Ornatum . I have two left, They are doing quite well, when feeding time comes, is when I enjoy watching them the most. They are not that personable, but interesting cichlids in my opinion...

 

[305phins]

That fish is def a ornatus. Jeff wouldn't post a festae picture and call it a ornatus. It depends what the attitude of the fish is, when posturing up they often show whole bars. I have 10 ornatus in a 300g all about 2-3"s and I would say the these fish are disappointing at all. My ornatus are pretty personal and like coming to the front of the tank when i do and are messing with the other fish all the time.