The Red Texas Cichlid that Isn't?

[Stephen St.Clair]

It looks like your Red Texas is developing nicely, and looks like it might be a fader. If it peels red, you will have a show fish.

 

[Serpentine]

It looks like your Red Texas is developing nicely, and looks like it might be a fader. If it peels red, you will have a show fish.

Huh. I thought my PetSmart special had turned out to be exactly what I paid for.

Noob question... what is a fader? I've heard the term but am not clear on its meaning.

 

[RD.]

There's a sticky on faders at the top of this section.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/faders-explained.396860/

Your RT is starting to look less and less like an RT. lol

 

[Serpentine]

Thanks! I had thought he already reached his full potential but it would seem that he's a late bloomer. He does have some areas that are turning more red than purple but I thought perhaps they were scuff marks or scars from digging around his lava rock. He could be peeling.

That also explains my previously orange red devil developing extensive white markings.

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

I find it laughable it when people market and sell fry as red texas cichlids because of the parents used to create a Red Texas hybrid. There's no guarantee you will get a cichlid that looks like a carpintis and be orange/red as adults. Even more laughable is when the adults are called red texas because of the lineage, and it doesn't have the visual traits of a Red Texas hybrid.

I said the same thing for years but always had mobs forming with pitchforks and torches coming after me lol. Theres like 7 pages of some jill or something talking about her red fish, the red one etc in the petsmart thread. The fish didnt have a spec of red on it and the update pics stopped well before the fish reached adulthood.

 

[Serpentine]

I guess Potential Red Texas cichlid didn't fly as a marketing name.

Except for the few red patches developing here and there Caligula is decidedly purple and green. Not realizing that they can undergo radical changes later in life I thought that was his final coloration and was OK with that. He's a pet.

I can see why some people would be upset with being sold a fish that didn't live up to the name though. They can't all be stunners but the name does imply a modicum of red somewhere on the fish.

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

Nothing wrong with your fish though. Lots of vieja traits and pearls. Not a red tex but a cool fish.

 

[HybridFinatic]

I look forward to his progression. Keep us in the loop.

 

[Serpentine]

I look forward to his progression. Keep us in the loop.

Will do. I have enjoyed watching him grow and change. It seems that he has more changes to come and it's exciting to see what he will turn into. He's like a Russian doll, one fish hidden inside another, inside another....

 

[Nilsafeller]

Here's what he looks like today in late adolescence. He's about 8 inches long, 5 inches tall and 2 inches wide. He's still growing, as is the nuchal hump.

I would say he's more of a purple Texas than red. His other side has more green. I don't have a lot of experience judging quality because I just got him as a wet pet. I am guessing he's not any show fish but that's OK. He's still beautiful and wow, does he ever have personality and brains.

Caligula ruled a tank full of festae and jewel cichlids before he got too rough for all of them and ended up with his own bachelor pad.

Wow! You really found yourself a stunning hybrid.... at this point I wouldnt even know what to call it lol... great find buddy!