Strange Nicaraguan cichlid

[Aeonflame]

I started a thread about this fish a while ago. It had developed a nuchal hump which disappeared after a few weeks.

Now the hump is back. I'm certain the fish isn't a hybrid and I haven't found any information on them that mentions it.

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[openbook]

Maybe it's a mutation. You could have a new subspecies on your hands. Just a far flung thought. There was a show I used to watch called mutant planet that was about this sort of thing.

[Trillianne]

Ok so I know nearly nothing about cichlids... so keep that in mind, but I did some googling about...

It looks to me kind of like a Cryptoheros Sajica
Here's a page with some photos that made me think that:
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And googling more does show larger specimens with the hump.... for example the one on this page linked under "Jumbo male" [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Could that be what yours is?

(Also totally as an aside... this article on nicaraguan cichlid moms raising their young was kind of interesting: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

[Crispy]

I have seen nics with humps, but they are always on large males. yours seems too small and I'm not even 100% sure it's even a male from that photo. I'm stumped atm.

[Aeonflame]

lol... I know right? Im almost certain its a female and I've only ever seen it on large males.

Thanks Trillianne for the links. I'm gonna read them now

[Aeonflame]

Jeez... now he thinks he's a firemouth

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[Trillianne]

Now he's just messing with you! ¬.¬

[Lab_Rat]

It's a male, the dorsal fin is spotted. Also, he's just got a large hump, especially for his size. My male has been getting humpier headed each day, and a blockier profile. My female has a small bump as well.

[Aeonflame]

Thanks labby!

[Demjor19]

Very Cool Nic! I can't offer any help on what it may be, but it's a great looking fish!

[JCheco]

Anyways Aeon beautiful fishthumbs2:

[William]

Humps on small wild nicaraguan cichlids are not that uncommon. I used to see them all the time when I lived on Lake Nicaragua. Havent seen it in fish in the aquarium trade before.

There are a lot of color morphs that are more or less unknown in the trade in Lake Granada. Visiting a fish market can be staggering when you see all the color types. Lake nicaragua is to central american cichlids in many way like lake tangayika or Malawi with loads of color variations, natural hybrids, what might be new species etc.

they do the firemouth thing a lot. especially when guarding fry.

[William]

Just read that the parents where F1. that would most likely explain it.

[Aeonflame]

Thanks William. I had no idea there was that much natural variation in the wild.

[William]

The coloration of many cichlids, especially red devils and citronellum can differ greately from one bay to another just a few hundred meters a part from the first one. (in lake nicaragua)

When I lived by the lake I would see cichlids i never seen in the fish market some days. often to never be seen again or very seldom. Hopefull I can get the time to explore this in the future.

[Aeonflame]

Ever spotted the lake Nicaragua bull sharks?

[William]

No. They are unfortunately very rare. I have not even seen a dead one. Almost all of the remaining ones live in the lower end of the lake near the River San Juan outlet.