Venustus or not?

[matt1066]

Hi all,

I purchased a venustus about 2 months ago-he has the pattern and face of th species, but not the shape. All I can say (being digitally challenged) is that he is a round ball with a tail.

Is it possible he is a hybrid, deformed, or just fat?

I purchased another one on Wednesday and he/she has the typical shape of the above.

What are your thoughts on this, if any?

Thanks,

Matt

[SGypsyMermaid]

kind of hard to say without actually seeing him.

[NyassaeMan]

I agree, hard to say with just a description. If round is accurate though...I would say that is uncommon. I have noticed some LFS getting Africans in as "assorted" and then sorting and selling them out based on "looks" . ALmost all assorted African come from large breeder ponds when inbreeding is possible. Some , however are just excess stock.

Sucks to spend tears growing fish only to find out they are not the correct species, or are not from a pure strain ( if thats what you were going after). JMO.

[matt1066]

Yes I think your right, he is not a true strain. I am torn between retuning him or not. He/she is a good fish, but not what I was looking for.

I think I will bring him back, as I did my OB peacock.

Regards,

Matt

[Mbuniac]

Matt,
I have a female Red Zebra that I call the "Mutant Midget". She is about half the length she should be, but normal height. A round ball with a tail pretty well describes her. I guess it just happens sometimes?
Sam

[merlyn2221]

Check out your fish. Does it look like this? Although I wouldn't exactly call this fish "round" it is certainly not elongated, such as say, a hongi or yellow lab.

[Mbuniac]

P.S.
I'm desperately looking for a mature male venustus, "anywhere in So. California". I posted this on the livestock forum but unfortunately received not replies.

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by merlyn2221
Check out your fish. Does it look like this? Although I wouldn't exactly call this fish "round" it is certainly not elongated, such as say, a hongi or yellow lab.

merlyn, that fish looks like a placidochromis milomo.

[aharris]

That's what I was thinking, but I hadn't said anything since I've only seen them at the LFS. They also go by VC-10 I think.

[matt1066]

Hi Merlyn,

No, my venustus is just a ball with a tail-Ill try to get a pic posted.

Thanks,

Matt

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by aharris
That's what I was thinking, but I hadn't said anything since I've only seen them at the LFS. They also go by VC-10 I think.

yes...the p. milomo is called 'vc-10'...i wonder why?