Charred zebras?

[BoBzz]

I have recently been noticing black charcoal like markings on several red zebras (at different lfs's) Is this normal for them? Are they hybrids?
Just though I'd ask before picking any up.

[fitch]

They are probably Msobo's... they go from red zebra to almost a johanni colouration morph, with black blotchy striping rater than chrisp lines (males that is) and the female stay redish orange.

Cheers
Jay

[MalawiGuy]

I'd say ther probably impure red zebra's. Are they OB are just a few spots? Ask them where they got them from and see if they really even know what they are. If two diferrant shops in your area got these same fish at the same time theyre probably from a local hobbyist.
I doubt theyre Msobo as they would command a higher price than red zebras and a shop that paid for Msobo would probably know what they had. If you can get a pic next time your there and post it here.

[BoBzz]

I suspected OB at first as well. But the markings are very faint almost like they had brushed against charcoal. The 2 shops are quite a distance away from each other and only one buys from other hobbyists. Also not all of the zebras they had actually showed this marking only on maybe 2-3 of each stores stock had it.