My Damaged Kelberi

[Venom SS]

Sorry, but I think you were sold ocells... Those don't have the common kelberi spangling, nor do their stripes extend from the top of their body to below the lateral line. They have spots that are centered on the side of their body- common ocell characteristics.

There is a slight chance that the fish are not kelberi then...

These fish dont look any different than my Kelberi I got from Rapps did at that size. For quite awhile there was debate as to whether they were actually Kelberi or not. They dont even show hints of what Kelberi look like untill about 7.5 to 8". Mine had no spangling whatsoever anywhere on him, now his got spangling all over his anal fin and between the bars on his body. If you bet money on ID'ng cichla that are smaller then 8" youre playing Vegas odds.

 

[spacewelder]

Thanks Venom. You are correct. They are Kelberi. They are turning a nice bright Gold color and they are looking like Kelberi every day. The pictures do them no justice at all. I spoke with Jeff and he is going to take care of it for me. I still like him cause he has a real attitude about him. He actually runs the tank. As soon as he gets bigger he will be going in his new home with the rest of my PB.

 

[elliotyoon]

damn that sucks

 

[krichardson]

I'm glad that you like and decided against killing him.He is deformed but at least doesnt require any special treatment or care and you probably will get more cichla in the future and this guy wont stand out so much.I agree that this fish should not have been selected for sale/shiping,dont believe that it wasnt born that way so it should have been noticed and separated early on.You have something of a mascot in your collection that deserves to live however long it will make it to.

 

[xxblwn408]

If you get with Michael, you guys can have a wetarded cichla tank! lol

 

[spacewelder]

Moderators kill this forum please.

 

[CichlaRyan]

If you get with Michael, you guys can have a wetarded cichla tank! lol

that would be funny.

 

[channarox]

Moderators kill this forum please.

we were all giving support.

 

[krichardson]

we were all giving support.

Yeah but he can do without the wetarded remark,I dont beleive that it was made with mean intentions its just that he put out a considerable ammount of trust and cash only to receive a product that he feels bad enough about.

 

[xxblwn408]

OMG! I didn't mean anything by what I said... I guess people take things different...
Don't take things so seriously.

Did you buy it deformed? Or did you get it when it was small and it just grew deformed?