ID PLEASE

[diagom]

Hi All,
My name is Diana and just adopted a tank that was already set up with a bunch of cichlids, like convicts, demasonians,red zebras, a red severum, a rhino, a butterfly pleco and a cichlid that I haven't identified yet. Would you please help me? He or she is about 5 or 6 inches and really peaceful, the sweetest of all. They've been always in a pH of 6,5. Do you recommend to leave it like that, as they're used to, or make it basic. It's a 30 gl. tank, I know it is too small,,,,,,
Thank you so much in advance.

Diana

[Alex Odesit]

Diana,
If you asking about the fish at your pictures, other then Heros Rotkeil and Pleco, I would say it's Cichlasoma bimaculatum (black acara), peaceful SA cichlid.
As you know the tank is small and you'll need to upgrade to at least 55g ASAP.
As for the water ph of 6.5 it's should be fine, just do at least weekly water change (min 50% of tank volume), don't forget that you running really small tank for bunch of large fish you have and it gets poluted very fast.
Hope you have a good filtration.
Good luck,
Alex

[diagom]

Night Alex:

Thank you very, very, very much for your time. I was waiting for an answer and yours was perfect. After I read it, I started taking a look at the cichlasomas bimaculatum, and yes, they look much like mine, but I also found another Cichlasoma, the dimmerus, and one of the pictures matches exactly with my fish. Would you take a look at the link pls? I trust the experts,,,,If you still think a bimaculatum, then it is (it may be a wrong ID):

http://www.amazon-exotic-import.de/Gall ... 0Salto.jpg

Thanks again Alex,

Diana

[Alex Odesit]

Night Alex:

Thank you very, very, very much for your time. I was waiting for an answer and yours was perfect. After I read it, I started taking a look at the cichlasomas bimaculatum, and yes, they look much like mine, but I also found another Cichlasoma, the dimmerus, and one of the pictures matches exactly with my fish. Would you take a look at the link pls? I trust the experts,,,,If you still think a bimaculatum, then it is (it may be a wrong ID):

http://www.amazon-exotic-import.de/Gall ... 0Salto.jpg

Thanks again Alex,

Diana

Hi Diana,
I found this article from earlier this year. That would definitely help to you. Please count spines in your fish anal fin. Let me know how many..
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8425
Take care,
Alex

[diagom]

Night Alex:
I counted the spines,,,, ten or eleven (hope I did good), different to the 3 or 4 mentioned in the forum.
Anyway, I am glad to know its origins, so I can bring it the right ambient.
By the way, thanks for the pH advice and the change of water; I am changing around 60% every week until
I get a good tank.
Thanks again for answering.
Cheers,
Diana

[Alex Odesit]

Night Alex:
I counted the spines,,,, ten or eleven (hope I did good), different to the 3 or 4 mentioned in the forum.
Anyway, I am glad to know its origins, so I can bring it the right ambient.
By the way, thanks for the pH advice and the change of water; I am changing around 60% every week until
I get a good tank.
Thanks again for answering.
Cheers,
Diana

Diana,
Did you count spines in anal or dorsal fin? 3 or 4 spines must be in the anal fin.
Alex

[diagom]

Hi Alex,
There are 4 spines in the anal fin.
So that confirms it is a Cichlasoma dimmerus. Really nice and peaceful fish!
Thanks for your guidance.
Cheers,
Diana

[diagom]

Night Alex,
I counted right now,,,there are 4 anl spines. That means you were right from the beginning?
Looks like it is a C. bimaculatum. Hard to find the match where I live now. Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Diana

[Alex Odesit]

Night Alex,
I counted right now,,,there are 4 anl spines. That means you were right from the beginning?
Looks like it is a C. bimaculatum. Hard to find the match where I live now. Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Diana

Hi Diana,
Glad I was able to help. Where you live?
Alex

[diagom]

Hi Alex:
I am in Calgary, Canada. And I've looked for a C. bimaculatum but nobody here seems to know them.
Alex, I finally got them a new 55 gl. tank.
Thanks,
Diana

[Dispar]

Gorgeous fish but it isn't Cichlasoma bimaculatum. It's Cichlasoma dimerus. I've been working with this genus for a while and i'm in the process of making a guide for the hobbyist to be able to distinguish between the species. Outside of knowing where the fish was originally caught in the wild, identifying a species of Cichlasoma has to be done by comparing a combination of different characteristics each species does or doesn't have. For example true Cichlasoma bimaculatum do not have black edges to the posterior portion of the scales on the head and body as your fish does. Below is a photo of a true Cichlasoma bimaculatum. It is an F0 male from Surinam. You can see how it is different from Your Cichlasoma and lacks the black edge on the scales.

[diagom]

They are quit similar,,,,,, but yes, someone mentioned, besides the black scales, that mine does not show the two black spots a true bimaculatum has. But what about the anal fins Alex pointed before? I have been looking for literature about this kind of cichlids, but it not easy to find something on the web.... Your guide is going to be pretty useful.
Can you differentiate male and female?
Thanks for your answer and pictures,
Diana

[Dispar]

Your welcome. I hope it has been of some use to you. For some reason this genus has been neglected in the literature ever since Kullander redefined it. I'm hoping my guide will be helpful to anyone who keeps these really interesting, yet seldom kept Acaras.

Concerning the number of anal fin spines in your fish, it is possible you have a specimen with an abnormal number of spines. I have seen both Cichlasoma amazonarum and Cichlasoma taenia with 5 and even 6 anal fin spines, instead of the normal 4. This could mean that the anal fin spine count may not be as reliable as we've thought. I always use several characteristics together to try to Identify a species. Besides the 3 anal fin spines and black edges to the scales, C. dimerus has a very small (to nearly non existant) cheek spot, a lateral line that is very subdued (sometimes not expressed at all) and many small spots in the caudal fin.

Males are slightly larger than females, have longer dorsal, anal and ventral fins and are generally more colorful. Females (in most species) tend to display the lateral spot more intensly than males. The difference between males and females is easier seen if you have both available to compare with.

[diagom]

Hi Dispar! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, hard to find those tips on the web. My fish has a very subdued line, non existant cheek spot, black edge scales and calm temper,,,, I think it is a she, light color, rounded body. I haven't seen that kind in the commercial stores,,,,,and it seems like she is feeling lonely.
Good to read you,
Thanks again,
Diana

[Vincentcnbres]

They are quit similar,,,,,, but yes, someone mentioned, besides the black scales, that mine does not show the two black spots a true bimaculatum has. But what about the anal fins Alex pointed before? I have been looking for literature about this kind of cichlids, but it not easy to find something on the web.... Your guide is going to be pretty useful.
Can you differentiate male and female?
Thanks for your answer and pictures,
Diana

[xavierfishman]

Im really glad I found this post because I think I have the true cichlasoma bimaculatum which seems to be very rare in the hobby because all i find are the cich. dimmers with the black edged scales.