Red tinted Dempsey listed as Flowerhorn

[cwj108]

The other day I was in the lfs when I saw a dempsey listed as a flowerhorn. I have been looking for a flowerhorn for a while which is why the tank caught my eye, but I couldn't pass this guy up. I have never seen a dempsey with a reddish hue to him, is this normal? I am pretty sure he is a male, my camera phone did not do him justice. I talked with the employee and they sold it to me at the dempsey price vs the flowerhorn price. Anyone else seen this before? I haven't kept dempseys for years, since back when I first got into cichlids.

 

[philipraposo1982]

I wonder if it's a hybrid

 

[jhook]

That's an interestingly colored JD. Good pickup. Should be an interesting adult unless it darkens up as it gets older. Both of my blue green gene JD's are very colorful, but more purplish and blue than red.

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

Looks awesome never seen one like that either

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

My recently rehomed JD had an incredible red hue to it. Not nearly what yours shows though. Please keep us updated as this beauty develops!

 

[MrsE88]

My jd has no red at all. Very interesting for sure. He will be stunning if he keeps that red color.

 

[cwj108]

Hes about 3 to 4 inches right now, im anxious to see how his colors develop.

 

[Athletic_Amph]

my blue gene breeding pair also had a similar coloring, but not as deep of a red as stated above.

ps-does he look slightly bloated in the 2nd pic, or is it just the angle?

 

[Escongleam]

I purchsed a tiny dempsey a couple of weeks ago for the exact same reason from petco. it was one of the smallest in a mixed tank, with very washed out light body coloring and a noticeable rosy tint on the breast by the gills. I have it in my 60 gallon with a lot of larger fish so I don't see it much, spending a lot of time in the rocks and plants. At group feeding it is always there getting its share and doing well.... I will see what happens as it grows.

 

[cwj108]

my blue gene breeding pair also had a similar coloring, but not as deep of a red as stated above.

ps-does he look slightly bloated in the 2nd pic, or is it just the angle?

Very bloated, he has about 5 pellets in him lol. He devoured all of the food I threw in there in about 10 secs! Out of all the Dempsey's I have owned in the past, this guy is def the biggest eater!