maxib Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Hello. This is a pic of my male Saulosi (so I was told) who is just starting to color up. His color is a bit mottled at the moment and lacks the definitive barring I am seeing in other pics of the species. Could it be a hybrid or different species. Or is it just his age and hasnt developed his colors properly yet? Anyone please tell me. Thankyou in advance.army colorshim and two females Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 It could be a young male. Give it some time and see how he colors up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Cheers. I just edited to try and give better info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 there have been some hybrids but it is a matter of waiting to see how the male coloursdid you see the breeders or just buy as fryhave a read of this threadhttp://www.aceforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=57379&hl=saulosithis shows what looks like a Mel interruptus cross that was doing the rounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Thanks for guiding me to that link. I was searching the forums but never found that. I recall seeing the parents but at that stage I had no experience with cichlids (still dont, but I can keep em alive) and wasnt looking for correct coloration etc. My fish must be around 6 months old now so I will wait and see how his color changes. Thank you Link2Hell in the future I will search the forums harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 maxib the subject header on that one doesn't show what is in the threadhe will show more colour shortly I would thinkthe other way you can test for male colour is using something like white cranefood it boosts colour and makes females show male colour but INHIBITS BREEDING Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The colour is not unusual if starting to change (see colour variation here) but the head shape looks a bit different. I would expect the top of the head to curve down towards the mouth, it is not a straight line if you know what I mean (Google some saulosi pics and compare). Having said that, shape can change with age too.The other giveaway would be the number and shape of bars. saulosi have 5 to 7 bars with the last bar (between tail and dorsal fin) often being very faint or nearly invisible. I think I see >7 bars in your picture but it's hard to tell at this point, you might just have to wait and see. Do you have other pictures, and also of the females? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Cheers Luis. Ive been comparing head shape and indeed some have rounder heads but they seem to be pics of mature ones so like you said probably the age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Just noticed the 25/Feb update.None of my saulosi ever looked like the picture labelled "army colors". The colours can be all over the place but the general pattern will be bars, not blotches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Thats what I thought. The color doesnt look right. The only thing ive seen close to that is msobo. Could too much spirulina cause the dark spots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Contacted breeder. Apparently its an ob zebra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 It isnt an OB zebra. Not even close to it....**EDIT** Also just noticed the updated photos, still dont think its a OB zebra, but does look to have some OB in it.**EDIT**Might be an idea to add a new post instead of updating the first post. I would make it easier to follow whats going on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccal Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I would say its a ob zebra or peacock crossed into the already hybrid Saulosi or crossed into other Pseudotropheus type.A hybrid become even more hybridized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 I give up. Plenty of images from various sites confirm this is probably a variety of Metriaclima Zebra. The classification of cichlids is too confusing. Im not in the hobby to breed fish and make money anyway so I couldnt really care. The fish has a good character and I like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Hybrid or not, I would not buy from a breeder who claims a fish is X and then changes their tune when it's clearly not. To me that would signal that they are either dishonest or clueless, or both.Instead I would choose to support breeders that are neither of the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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