Oddball New World Cichlid at LFS. What the heck is he?

[heatherbeast]

Here's a mystery for your Friday night amusement!

This fellow showed up a week ago at one of the LFS. Long-time friend of the owner brought this fella back from a trip. I didn't catch whether this was CA or SA. Very alert, likes people, probably would be hell on wheels in a mixed tank. He's about 10-11" long. Has an orange margin on the very uppermost edge of his dorsal. Anyone who's seen my Parachromis threads knows I'm no good at this, lol.

So, MFK cichlid ID gurus, what say you? My best guess is Chuco or Tomocichla.


Crappy cel phone pic:

 

[Decker504]

Looks west african to me

From DJ/MC Decker

 

[heatherbeast]

Huh. Wonder if it might be invasive tilapia? I did a GIS for 'large west african cichlid' and Tilapia mariae looks like a good match?

 

[fishman09]

yeah doesnt look like any ca/sa ive ever seen. cool fish though

 

[Decker504]

If your try and google it by name its pops up as INEVASIVE right away. Not New World thou...

From DJ/MC Decker

 

[fwprawn]

Yes, an African Tilapia, probably T. mariae. Wonderful fish.

 

[heatherbeast]

Thanks, guys! Mystery solved. Bad news for the original collection area since they aren't supposed to be there, but I agree he is pretty neat. Shame all my tanks are soft water, low pH...

 

[heatherbeast]

Thanks, guys! Mystery solved. The collection point is what threw everyone for a loop, I guess. It's bad news for the original collection area since they aren't supposed to be there, but I agree he is pretty neat. Shame all my tanks are soft water, low pH...

 

[Decker504]

Fish like that don't require hard water, they are riverine species. I lived in Riverview outside of Tampa and we had a breeding colony of Big Blue Tilapia in a rentention pond behind our entire block. Beautiful fish, but definitely not native.

From DJ/MC Decker