Hey guys! As a kid growing up my favorite African Cichlid was an Electric Blue. Recently I discovered there were two different a kinds. Can anyone tell me the difference between the 2?
Sciaenochromis ahli vs fryeri
- Thread starter Com3backKid
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The ahli is pretty rare, normally anything labeled ahli is a fryeri. Fryeri's color is a nicer from pictures I've seen. Most places mix the names up alot.
What does the red anal fin indicate? I’ve seen Electric Blues with and without them.
It could be a collection point characteristic, kinda like some have more of a white blaze than others . Cichlid forum had pics from different collection areas, but all of the pics are down right now.
Here is a pic of my juvenile Electric Blue Fryeri, squaring off against a juvenile Fusco. He has a developing blaze and a red anal fin. Only about an inch and a half long. I'm pretty sure the red anal fin is a male trait. I know its a lousy pic. Already got the lunars on. Maybe I'll get a better pic tommorow.
Based upon this the fryeri is what I grew up loving and believing was a fryeri/ Electric Blue.
I was always under the impression these are the same fish. I believe Ahli and fryeri were described as separate species, but after further examination, found to be one in the same. In scientific nomenclature the first name given, fryeri in this case, is kept and the name that was given at a later date is discarded.
I would have to crack out one of my Konings books, but S fryeri & S ahli I have always believed were different fish. Fryeri very common, ahli quite rare. Lunsforj …... do you happen to have any data to support what you said? Perhaps I've been missing something all these years?
I have seen ahli in person, but only kept fryeri. Red anal glands etc, as James stated is due to different collection points in the lake. Hence another reason why one should not be mixing geographical variants.
I have seen ahli in person, but only kept fryeri. Red anal glands etc, as James stated is due to different collection points in the lake. Hence another reason why one should not be mixing geographical variants.