Still Showable? a Trimac question...

[Mad About Cichlids]

I'm debating if I should keep him or trade him. He's in show quality condition, only thing that I find odd about him are his spots. He has the normal spots on head and tail but no spot in middle of body. Now without this middle spot I'm wondering if the cichlid judges would disqualify him, since all Trimac aka Three spot cichlids are known to have three spots or more.



Here's two pix I just took of him, sorry about the dirty glass
right flank

left flank

 

[TheOscarGuy]

I'm debating if I should keep him or trade him. He's in show quality condition, only thing that I find odd about him are his spots. He has the normal spots on head and tail but no spot in middle of body. Now without this middle spot I'm wondering if the cichlid judges would disqualify him, since all Trimac aka Three spot cichlids are known to have three spots or more.

My male looks very similar to yours i.e., it also does not have a very significant middle spot. I think its very nice fish, though I don't know if having a perfect three spot body is indeed amongst the things the judges see -- maybe experts can chime in here. I would argue though that this should not be the case, since I find very less number of specimen in the hobby with the three spot coloration.

Is showing him in competitions the only reason you are keeping him? If thats the case, and in fact if having more (or less) than three spots in undesirable in show quality trimacs, you can consider selling him. I would personally keep him though, its very nice, thick Trimac and is only going to get more beautiful as it matures further.

 

[killerfish]

I don't know how they grade them so i couldn't tell you if he would be dissqualified but its still a good looking trimac looks like its in great condition

 

[orbit]

I would say that a judge would mark points down for the spots lacking... They, I assume, look for the most "perfect" Tri that they can get.

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

Thanks for responses everyone as I have hope to show all my fishes in the future.

I would say that a judge would mark points down for the spots lacking... They, I assume, look for the most "perfect" Tri that they can get.

Now that I think about it, it's true, it won't be disqualified but will just not get high points.