why the difference?

[AmazonKeeper21]

wow I would hope he doesnt have any sight issues, he looks kinda cool super light almost albino.

 

[darboy]

yeah best check also the color of your fish's eye if it is red then it is a true albino

 

[Chizzle]

oh a friend of mine has a similar problem with his cichla kelberi. same pale color he picked it thinking it might be something special. attached is a photo of the fish, notice the eye is kinda blurry and the black part kinda small. we concluded this fish has sight problems but not completely blind. he chases fish by charging while keeping its mouth in contact with the tank bottom. when i take a net and put it in front of him, he doesn't move. but when you block the sunlight from the tank, it startles him a bit.. weird but yeah that's how i came up with that.. observe your fish first and tell us what you see View attachment 742078View attachment 742079

Fish that are blind can still detect vibrations and movement through their lateral line. So, when you put the net in front of him he definitely knows its there.

That is one interesting fish, how does the other side and eye look like?

 

[cpm6t]

This cichla is going for food during feeding same as the others. The only difference I see is that he never goes in to hiding unlike the others. Stays in the out or close to the front glass. Does not bother to move away when I touch the glass in front of him where as the others would panic and hide.
Probably there is a weakness in sight, but I think it is common to all the albinos. If I'm not mistaken, albinos occur due to a deformation in may be genes and it definitely affects the eye sight too. (of all the animal varieties).

 

[Decker504]

Let's hope it just turns out to be some super rare albino! unless the poor fella does have sight problems.

That would rock!

Sent from my DROID3 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[gangster]

Doesnt look albino w/ its eye color. But it does look pretty interesting. Keep him fat and full and see how he blooms into an adult. Could be a very awesome fish.....well it already is cause its a pbass

 

[darboy]

Fish that are blind can still detect vibrations and movement through their lateral line. So, when you put the net in front of him he definitely knows its there.

That is one interesting fish, how does the other side and eye look like?

good point bro.. the other eye looks exactly the same as the other one. tried with melafix and salt for two weeks, still no change. my friend just stocks his tank with a load of small guppies and leaves him be.

 

[darboy]

This cichla is going for food during feeding same as the others. The only difference I see is that he never goes in to hiding unlike the others. Stays in the out or close to the front glass. Does not bother to move away when I touch the glass in front of him where as the others would panic and hide.
Probably there is a weakness in sight, but I think it is common to all the albinos. If I'm not mistaken, albinos occur due to a deformation in may be genes and it definitely affects the eye sight too. (of all the animal varieties).

good to hear man! i hope you can keep us updated on this guy and your group of cichlas, intriguing if this guy grows up and doesn't change its color.