P.polleni hybrid?

[mun1984]

Hi all, so I got this critter at only half an inch from the LFS. Was labelled as baby P. Polleni.

After slightly less than a year it grew to this.

Am curious about it's shape and the lack of black and speckling. Wondering if it's a true p.polleni? Maybe a particularly dull individual? Eats a lot and very healthy!

Thank you everyone!

 

[mun1984]

Sorry am from the metric system. Just realized how small 1/2 an inch is. Got it at between 1 to 2 inches

 

[duanes]

Looks real to me, but there are at least 5 different location variants of the species (some given separate species status, P typus, P sp Andapa), most LFSs have no idea whether they have 1 species or the other, and couldn't tell the difference even with photos.
Here is a P. polleni small spot I had, it is very similar to yours.

They change colors and spotting patterns depending on social status and breeding, below is the same male in breeding color.

Now below, a Paratilapia sp Andapa, obviously a different species from the one in the photos above

 

[mun1984]

Thanks for replying Duanes! Yeah mine looks more compact than most, that's why I thought its not pure or one of those balloon deformaties you see now and then, but I do see the similarities with the one you had. Yours is a lot nicer though! How old was it when he darkened and more spots came through?

 

[duanes]

The "small spot" was nearly 10", and probably 5 years old, color change was almost immediate when one of the females came into season.

Their growth rate had a lot to do with the dominance in a tank.
I had a group of , 2 males, and 2 females in a 150 gal tank. The dominant male easily hit 8" quickly, where the other only grew to 4". After the alpha died, the 2nd male grew an extra 3" almost overnight.
And I don't think whether the alpha is same species or not matters, a non-dominant fish in a tank with another alpha cichlid in my tank, always seems to grow more slowly.
I also believe the frequency and amount of water changes will effect growth. If you do 1x 30% water per change per month, a cichlid will grow slower than if you do 1 x 30% water change per week, or if you do a 50% every other day growth could be exponentially faster.

 

[mun1984]

Interesting stuff Duanes, thanks a lot! Mine is definitely the alpha. But as there is no females maybe that's why the colours are not showing yet. Anyway, will probably do more frequent water changes since I do not have the space for another one.

Thank you!