Paratilapia polleni and Bleekeri

[Jc1119]

So I'm reading a lot about these fish and having a hard time getting a solid answer. Are Bleekeri now considered polleni big spot and polleni are small spot?

I bought a few fish as Bleekeri and they have much larger spots then my polleni but it seems as if some folks are calling them polleni big spot once again.

Just trying to clear up the confusion a bit. Keeping them separate from each other regardless but was curious about using the name "Bleekeri".

Thanks in advance!


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[Skurj]

And here I bought some polleni sold as Bleekeri that definitely look like 'small spot' polleni..

 

[duanes]

When Paratilapia were first imported it was thought they were only 1 species, then 2.
But many possibly hybridized in between that time, and most LFS stock could simply be crosses.
In the book "The Endemic Cichlids of Madagascar" by de Rham and Nourisatt, there at least 5 location variants which may all become 5 different species.
In the same book polleni is considered large spot, and 4 others are small spot.
I have both a large spot version considered "sp andapa", and a small spot, and a LFS individual I would probably need to consider an intra-genus hybrid, because no location was known by the seller when I picked it up.
1st a photo of small spot male

2nd a sp andapa from cichlasoman (MFK member Jose)

and below, the LFS individual

 

[Jc1119]

Great info. The first pic was sold as a Bleekeri and the second is a mystery but I suspect possibly polleni. Still new to these guys so I'm kinda guessing and going by what folks have been telling me.

I also have another that looks like pic 1. Still very camera shy.


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[ciclasoman]

Much has been argued back and forth regarding the taxonomy of the genus Paratilapia. Best references are the book that Duane quoted and an article written by Dr Paul Loiselle in the ACA Buntbarsche Bulletin #267 Dec 2011. Suffice to say there are multiple Paratilapia species, about 11 and possibly more. Paratilapia polleni is a large spot Paratilapia when preserved in alcohol the spots shrink significantly, thus the confusion. Paratilapia bleekeri has never been in the hobby so the name is improperly used. Read these resources for additional info, it's really worth it.

 

[RD.]

John, I think that it's safe to say at this point that without some form of provenance that leads back to a collection location, they all become an aquarium strain of "polleni". Even some of the better known vendors have sold many of these fish as simply "small spot", or "large spot", and while they may very well be pure strains, without a specific collection location those only add to the confusion and potentially muddy the genetic waters further.

The following link shows some of the different species/geographical variants.

http://madagroup.francecichlid.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=25


HTH

 

[Jc1119]

Very cool. Thanks guys. Guess it's really hard to tell what is what and watt is pure nowadays. Great info though! Much appreciated


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