Fish Id

[ladyoutlaw50]

When I first got this fish I was convinced it was an auratus -- but now that it is bigger, I am not so sure --- what do you all think??

[cocoa_pleco]

looks like a female auratus or m. chipokae, i always get the 2 mixed up

[angelcakes]

Melanochromis Chipokae,male??????????????

[cocoa_pleco]

Melanochromis Chipokae,male??????????????

thats what im thinking too. The way to tell them apart is by their tail, iluvmygoldbarb knows how to tell which is which

[angelcakes]

thats what im thinking too. The way to tell them apart is by their tail, iluvmygoldbarb knows how to tell which is which
and it seems the colouring the female has a blue colour?

[kaybee]

It's definately not a m. auratus.

The markings bear a similarity to that of m. chipokae, but the horizontal stripes aren't bold enough and distinctive facial and tail markings are absent.

I'm leaning toward melochromis hybrid on this one (possibly m. johanni x m. chipokae), or maybe even an actual m. johanni (female) due to the sort of species variation which is sometimes seen.

Do you have any pics of it when it was smaller? If not, now large was it at time of purchase and how has its appearance changed since then?

[ladyoutlaw50]

It's definately not a m. auratus.

The markings bear a similarity to that of m. chipokae, but the horizontal stripes aren't bold enough and distinctive facial and tail markings are absent.

I'm leaning toward melochromis hybrid on this one (possibly m. johanni x m. chipokae), or maybe even an actual m. johanni (female) due to the sort of species variation which is sometimes seen.

Do you have any pics of it when it was smaller? If not, now large was it at time of purchase and how has its appearance changed since then?

I will look thru my photos -- i am sure i must have something somewhere -- when it was younger the markings were darker and I would have sworn it was an auratus - but as it grew -- I started wondering about the female johanni -- but I thought she wasn't yellow enough. ok I will go thru my photos and see what i have - -be back in a bit

[ladyoutlaw50]

ok I found 2 pictures of this fish taken the end of March of this year ---

[ladyoutlaw50]

sorry forgot to add the 2nd pic

[Lab_Rat]

I think it's likely a chipokae hybrid. The markings aren't quite right for chipokae and I don't think it's an auratus.

[Dixie]

I know it's not an auratus. The tail isn't right or the coloring of the stripes. I'd go with chipokae mixed with something else.

[Fishguy2727]

Unless you KNOW exactly what it is (got it from a breeder or a LFS and it is pure and from known wild caughts or is a wild caught) then you have to assume it is a hybrid. The most common definition of a species would actually make them all the same species anyways.

[Collin1104]

definitely looks like some kind of melanochromis