I purchased a home in central Florida near a bunch of fish farms. I have a few weird species in my pond. Most of them I can ID, but this cichlid confuses me. I finally caught a male in full colors. Take a look and help me out please.
Need Help With ID Please
- Thread starter pmtuneman13
- Start date
It's a jack Dempsey, Rocio (Cichlasoma) octofasciatum.
here's a pic from their natural habitat in the Yucatan, near Cancun.
here's a pic from their natural habitat in the Yucatan, near Cancun.
I have owned several JDs throughout the years and none looked like this guy. It is possible it is a very old strain that has been inbreeding for years making their bodies shaped differently. Thanks for the help.
In nature JDs can be very varied in color combinations, and it looks more like a wild version than some of the stubby mono color aquarium strains. Although its feral, it may be generations from someones tank, and natural selection tends to make a species return to its natural shape and colors.
It may have been a wild breeder that a fish farm used, and escaped during a hurricane, or flooding incident.
It may have been a wild breeder that a fish farm used, and escaped during a hurricane, or flooding incident.