Ok lets try this again, What the heck is this fish

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look a little like a pearsei. i doubt it is one tough.

I dont think this guy has any pearsei in him. At this size even a pearsei would be a bit more slender and not quite as high bodied. I have not seen pearsei hybrid though I would not be surprised if it was happening somewhere
 
Pearsei.

Pearsei-411b.jpg
 
Dang Mojo I seeing your photos makes me want so bad to have a better camera and set up for photographing. I wish I could capture the moment like you do! My pictures wash my fish out. I can never get the resolution I want without the flash and when I use the flash it washes everything out however I can get a good clear picture. I do only have my cell phone camera however. I need to do some research on what the best camera flash set up would be.
 
I'm agreeing with you Dparks87. Probably a hybrid. Its hind quarters are a bit under developed. 20 years ago I would send my little brother to the LFS and ask him to pick up a Bifas or Red Devil, Synspilum or Midas Cichlid and expect to get exactly what I asked for. No worries about them hybrids. Now it takes forever just to make sure your looking at something pure. It's a waste of time!
 
I am not so sure it is a waste of time. Look at how much interest this fish generated. I think the fish is amazing... It does not really fit in with what I am trying to do with my hobby at the moment but oh well. I do not know very well if I would say that I like or love hybrids but I do like tank raised fish. Knowing that I never took this fish from a natural habitat makes me feel a bit better about keeping it in a tank...... Not to say I will keep a wild caught specimen again but its a start
 
Don't say things you're not sure at.
The fish is not some-kind of Heros or Texas or some other Cichlasoma.

The fish is a Vieja.
The big question is what Vieja type is it.

It is NOT Bifasciatum.

It can be Guttulata, Harwegi or Zonatus.
I think that it is a Zonatus, cause of the tall body shape.

Beautiful fish, save him. Good luck raising him. ;)
 
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