I saw a photograph of a Cuban cichlid several years back that made a very strong impression on me. I had seen cubans before but the specimen in the photo had an extremely high white contrast. I'm sure many have observed this trait and can even guess which photo I'm referring to.
Eager to keep a specimen like this for myself I went out and acquired a trio from the best source that I could find. I grew these fish out to approximately 7-8" but never got the specimen that I was looking for. These fish were mostly black with a purple irridescent hue. No genuine white.
I eventually sold the trio. Thinking that perhaps it would be that special fish in the brood that would attain the desired color, I bought another pair from a vendor who let me come and pick my fish out of his tank. Surely by being able to pick the best out of dozens, I'd get what I was looking for, right? Well, no. Turns out that the fish originated from the same breeder as the ones I had before and would all be a darker, more blotchy variant and not the high-white, "mosaic" looking fish that I was in search of.
Totally disenchanted by the species, I gave up and vowed that I would never........ well, it wasn't really that serious, but it was definitely a bummer.
Then, several months later the same vendor sent me a photo of a fish in his possession that caught my attention once again. This fish wasn't as mature as the one in the original photo but the high-white color pattern was remarkable and like no Cuban that I had ever seen in person. As per "the vow", I passed on the fish.
During my subsequent visits over the next several months I saw more and more of these fish ranging from 1.5" to 7" and every male over 3" was high-white.
So, with my interest in Nandopsis tetracanthus resurrected I broke down and acquired for myself (for the third time) some cubans.
So, what gives?
New blood in the hobby perhaps?
Whatever it is, I am very happy to own what I consider to be a stunning example of this species and I think its safe to say that a new variant has emerged. Let's preserve it!.
Any thoughts on or pictures of the species are welcome.
Thanks mfk'ers!
Eager to keep a specimen like this for myself I went out and acquired a trio from the best source that I could find. I grew these fish out to approximately 7-8" but never got the specimen that I was looking for. These fish were mostly black with a purple irridescent hue. No genuine white.
I eventually sold the trio. Thinking that perhaps it would be that special fish in the brood that would attain the desired color, I bought another pair from a vendor who let me come and pick my fish out of his tank. Surely by being able to pick the best out of dozens, I'd get what I was looking for, right? Well, no. Turns out that the fish originated from the same breeder as the ones I had before and would all be a darker, more blotchy variant and not the high-white, "mosaic" looking fish that I was in search of.
Totally disenchanted by the species, I gave up and vowed that I would never........ well, it wasn't really that serious, but it was definitely a bummer.
Then, several months later the same vendor sent me a photo of a fish in his possession that caught my attention once again. This fish wasn't as mature as the one in the original photo but the high-white color pattern was remarkable and like no Cuban that I had ever seen in person. As per "the vow", I passed on the fish.
During my subsequent visits over the next several months I saw more and more of these fish ranging from 1.5" to 7" and every male over 3" was high-white.
So, with my interest in Nandopsis tetracanthus resurrected I broke down and acquired for myself (for the third time) some cubans.
So, what gives?
New blood in the hobby perhaps?
Whatever it is, I am very happy to own what I consider to be a stunning example of this species and I think its safe to say that a new variant has emerged. Let's preserve it!.
Any thoughts on or pictures of the species are welcome.
Thanks mfk'ers!
I was just curious as to whether anyone else has noticed the difference that I see in these fish or has a string of bad luck with this species made me partial? I would also love to see some Cuban pics.
