Petrotilapia sp. "Chitimba"?

[Athena]

Hello,

This is my first post, and also my main reason for registering. This is "Big Dog" and he is about 3 years old.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/TFC/Lombardois11.jpg

Big Dog was sold to me as a Kenyi, which is an older (and wrong) name for Pseudotrophius Lombardoi, which is now supposed to be Maylandia Lombardoi. Anyhow, when he was younger he was quite yellow, and I just assumed the pet store was right and that he was indeed a Lombardoi.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/TFC/Lombardois5.jpg

Well as you can see, he's changed color quite drastically with age. I thought for a while that he may be a hybrid between Lombardoi and Acei, but recently I saw a picture of a Petrotilapia sp. "Chitimba"... Big Dog is almost identical to this fish, but I am having a difficult time finding many more pictures, and or any decent information. :confused:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/TFC/Lombardois22.jpg

This is one of the pics I found online... This is not Big Dog but it looks just like him!

http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/TFC/Pchitimba.jpg

Anyhow, I am not a newbie to fish keeping or Cichlids, but with so much different information out there, it is difficult sometimes to properly label fish. Please tell me what you think, is my search over with Petrotilapia sp. "Chitimba" or is he something else completely? Also, does anyone have a sweet clue on how I can get more of these in Canada or shipped to Canada so that he can have a pair or trio of females?

Thank you so much!

Athena

[tom]

Hi Athena

I'll tell you from the outset that I've never kept any Petrotilapia spp., but your fish is not M. lombardoi, as you already suspect. Nor does it "fit" "acei" x lombardoi: In neither species are the juveniles an orangeish/yellow color (or as adults, in the case of the "acei"). I do know that (at least some) Petrotilipia species are orangeish before maturity, so it appears that you're headed in the right direction, if not there already. The one detail that seems odd is that it was sold to you as a lombardoi, since Petrotilapia appear to be uncommon in Mbuna tanks (hence the shortage of info), and I'd think that those selling one would likely know the species as a result (or at the very least know that juvenile lombardoi are not orange).

Unfortunately, that's the extent of my "help." Hopefully, someone who has kept these fish will post a follow-up.

[tom]

I believe I've just set the board record for Most Words Used to Say "I have no idea." :mrgreen:

[tom]

OK--I got a bit curious and found that a distinguishing characteristic of the genus is that "the jaws are flared apart anteriorly even when the mouth is closed" (Oliver, http://malawicichlids.com/mw09004i.htm ). The presence of this unusual (at least among Mbuna) dentition won't help ID your fish to a species, but it will at least narrow it down to the genus.

[Athena]

Thank you so much for your responses! Like I said earlier, this is something I've been curious about for a couple of years! I've asked on forums before and they always would tell me the same thing - he's a hybrid, kill him. Well I'm sorry, but he has the most personality of anyone in the tank, and doesn't even go after Lab or Acei fry that could swim into his mouth. It was frustrating to always get that response. :mad:

The store that I bought him from was horrible, and I actually later petitioned to close it due to animal cruelty. They have been taken to court a million times... The don't know jack about jack, so it's not surprising that they could've been so wrong. I've read that Petrotilapia are very closely related to Pseudotropheus though, and at a younger age I can see how someone who knew little about them could think he was a male Lombardoi that had just going through his transitioning... Except that they are much more yellow and much less orange. When I bought him I had never heard of "Kenyi" and it wasn't until later that I found out that was a faux name for Lombardoi.

I too read about the teeth, as well as the large girth. He definitely has both the teeth (with open jaws) and size to be a Petrotilapia. Also, the "note" about not confusing them with Iodotropheus sprengerae hit me, because people have tried to tell me that's was he was...

Anyhow, thanks once again for your responses. I believe that I have finally hit the nail on the head, and I greatly appreciate the fact that someone agrees with me! It is bitter sweet though, as my chances of ever finding him mates are slim. :uh:

I have a couple of other fish I'd like to ask about, should I make a new thread for each of them? :)

Thanks again, :ok:

Athena

[tom]

Originally posted by Athena


I have a couple of other fish I'd like to ask about, should I make a new thread for each of them? :)


Yes, please. (Besides, more people will take notice of a new thread.) :)

[jonah]

Originally posted by tom
I believe I've just set the board record for Most Words Used to Say "I have no idea." :mrgreen:

I'll just come out and say it. I have no idea either.

Just wanted to say hi to my old friend Athena.:party:


aka OKMIC1

[Athena]

MIKE!!!!!!!! http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/Smilies/Clap.gif Hello darling! http://members.lycos.co.uk/athenamarie/Smilies/Kiss.gif Let the good times roll... :wink: