Zonatus, Coatz, Syn...hybrid?

[manda4]

Can't quite pin what exactly Pretzel is. He looks like all of the fish in the title, but is lacking specific traits.
He's around 14" now and seems to be growing still. Was 11" four months ago, no joke.

 

[ehh]

Haha "pretzel". That's a fun name.

 

[manda4]

Its Preztel because I was told he was a synspilum, or quetzal...then Pretzilla because his gender was questonable, back to Pretzel when I recently got a young female syn. They are now dating.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Looks more like a fenastratus than any other veija.

 

[manda4]

thank you Stanzzzz7
Pretzel fits this cichlid profile perfectly! I thought I had really researched but somehow missed this one, as did everyone else! It explains the continued growth and finally have a good explaiexplanation for the vertical as well as horizontal striping.

 

[Chillz23]

As per other thread, it's not a fenestratus, it's a Cichlasoma Hartwegi.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

It has none of the spangles to the head associated with hartwegi. It also displays the block/window type pattern of fenastratus. it has also reached 14 inches. Hartwegi are seldom recorded over 12.
I also think fenastratus is the closest natural match to this fish but there are no guarantees it not a hybrid.
As per other thread,I think your wrong.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Also cichlasoma has not been used for this genus for years.

 

[Frank Castle]

It has none of the spangles to the head associated with hartwegi. It also displays the block/window type pattern of fenastratus. it has also reached 14 inches. Hartwegi are seldom recorded over 12.
I also think fenastratus is the closest natural match to this fish but there are no guarantees it not a hybrid.
As per other thread,I think your wrong.

you mean you don't trust random Vieja purchases not to be pure-strains? C'mon now, people don't just LIE and say it's not a hybrid so they can make a sale PSSSSSHHHHH, nobody does that

 

[Stanzzzz7]

There's always the chance it's hybrid but it looks true to form to me