Belize cichlids

[daviiiiiiid]

Hi Pam,
I am just back from a very fun spring vacation in Belize, was amazed by all the fish in the all the rivers, and, in particular, observed a fish somewhat like the classic Keyhole Cichlid, but blonder and with much more striking pattern of dark black, filling up as much as 50% of each flank. The local folk were calling these fish "black bands," but they look nothing like the black band cichlid that's in the fish books. Any thoughts on what this creature might be. We saw them at the entrance to the so-called "ATM cave." I can send along some photos and more about the location if that would help.
More broadly, how many species of cichlids do you think might exist out there in a place like Belize that are either a) utterly unidentified, or b) not exported to the aquarium trade."
Thanks,
David
daviiiiiiid@gmail.com

[Pam Chin]

Hi david,

I am glad to hear you were observing cichlids on your recent trip to Belize. I have heard and read many stories of people going there and the cichlids they have found. I am not very familiar with the fish fauna that is found there, but I found you a bunch of links and hopefully you can figure out what you were seeing.

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id ... ery=belize

Also you might leave a message with your pictures in the CRC Forum, to see if they can help you ID them.

Cichlid Power!
Pam