What type of Vieja is this?
- Thread starter sujay313
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Having been lurking here for over a decade without posting, I just couldn't see all the replies suggesting this is a Synspilum without a counter argument.
This is almost guaranteed a Vieja Fenestrata, there are several catch locations, Google images typically only show the variant where the Marbled Fenestrata origines from. But there are more white variants, as well as this in-between.
Vieja Melanura (synspilum) doesn't have this coloration on the dorsal or anal fin, nor this coloration of the body. The blue and red "freckels" meshed together are very typical of Fenestrata, Bifasciata and Hartwegi, but not of Melanura (synspilum). Another giveaway is that Melanura doesn't have a long stretched black bar like the Fenestrata, it never exceeds mid-body and is often dotted (typical from the older classifications of synspilum) and is paired with a high contrast black "blotch" on the belly (typical from the older classifications of melanura). Granted, on yours, the bar isn't fully stretched to the pectoral fins, but it still exceeds mid-body is more solid than what's typical of Synspilum.
Vieja Melanura/Synspilum, Fenestrata, Hartwegi, Bifasciata all have red heads. A big problem is that unspecified "red headed cichlid" are sold in fish stores, and fry have then been resold as such, making people confused on what is what. It could be a hybrid, but if it is, it took a big influence from the Fenestrata-side. But it's not a Melanura/Synspilum.
This is almost guaranteed a Vieja Fenestrata, there are several catch locations, Google images typically only show the variant where the Marbled Fenestrata origines from. But there are more white variants, as well as this in-between.
Vieja Melanura (synspilum) doesn't have this coloration on the dorsal or anal fin, nor this coloration of the body. The blue and red "freckels" meshed together are very typical of Fenestrata, Bifasciata and Hartwegi, but not of Melanura (synspilum). Another giveaway is that Melanura doesn't have a long stretched black bar like the Fenestrata, it never exceeds mid-body and is often dotted (typical from the older classifications of synspilum) and is paired with a high contrast black "blotch" on the belly (typical from the older classifications of melanura). Granted, on yours, the bar isn't fully stretched to the pectoral fins, but it still exceeds mid-body is more solid than what's typical of Synspilum.
Vieja Melanura/Synspilum, Fenestrata, Hartwegi, Bifasciata all have red heads. A big problem is that unspecified "red headed cichlid" are sold in fish stores, and fry have then been resold as such, making people confused on what is what. It could be a hybrid, but if it is, it took a big influence from the Fenestrata-side. But it's not a Melanura/Synspilum.
