Unknown Vieja

[d3ssen27]

Hello everyone..
I just got these 2 little cuties but am not too sure which Vieja species they are. Even the LFS were not sure what they were. I am guessing maybe Vieja Bifasciatus or Vieja Fenestratus..

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Hello everyone..
I just got these 2 little cuties but am not too sure which Vieja species they are. Even the LFS were not sure what they were. I am guessing maybe Vieja Bifasciatus or Vieja Fenestratus..

View attachment 1459763

View attachment 1459764

Looks like a vieja fenestratus aka window cichlid they’re very beautiful this guys gonna grow to be gorgeous

 

[d3ssen27]

Looks like a vieja fenestratus aka window cichlid they’re very beautiful this guys gonna grow to be gorgeous

Thanks for the clarification..i was not sure

 

[Deadeye]

duanes
Viejas are typically very hard to identify until maturity, but fenestratus, bifasciatus, and melanurus/synspillum are all good bets given the red head.

 

[d3ssen27]

duanes
Viejas are typically very hard to identify until maturity, but fenestratus, bifasciatus, and melanurus/synspillum are all good bets given the red head.

These are definitely not Synspillum for sure..i have had them in the past and they are way different even when small

 

[duanes]

Just to compare.
Here is a young V. melanurus from COA

now young, true, V. bifasciata,

Note on both above the longitudinal bar runs only half way down the body (or less)Doesn't run to the opercle.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of fenestrata, is that the longitudinal bar runs from the opercule to the base of the tail.
It also has 6 vertical bars.
The fenestratus I had looked quite different when young (in the 80s, before I started using a camera).
Sorry.... My thought would be, without provenance, its a hybrid., unless it grows into a more obvious true species

 

[Man-made Monsters]

duanes
Viejas are typically very hard to identify until maturity, but fenestratus, bifasciatus, and melanurus/synspillum are all good bets given the red head.

The body markings help identify the fish from a very young age of around 1.0-2.0 inches. These fish are clearly not Melanurus or Bifasciatus.

 

[d3ssen27]

Just to compare.
Here is a young V. melanurus from COA
View attachment 1459773
now young, true, V. bifasciata,
View attachment 1459774
Note on both above the longitudinal bar runs only half way down the body (or less)Doesn't run to the opercle.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of fenestrata, is that the longitudinal bar runs from the opercule to the base of the tail.
It also has 6 vertical bars.
The fenestratus I had looked quite different when young (in the 80s, before I started using a camera).
Sorry.... My thought would be, without provenance, its a hybrid., unless it grows into a more obvious true species

I need to wait till they grow up to know exactly which species they are

 

[d3ssen27]

The body markings help identify the fish from a very young age of around 1.0-2.0 inches. These fish are clearly not Melanurus or Bifasciatus.

I am not sure whether they are Fenestratus

 

[Rtc/tsn]

I am not sure whether they are Fenestratus

Yes they are fenestratus