what's a "utilla"?

[FishoPhile J]

ok, so i just bought a cichlid that has brown and white verticle bars, and it was labled as a utilla... no family name was given. i tried to do some research, but without the family name, i have nowhere to start.... please help.
thanx,
-j.

[SGypsyMermaid]

sounds like a typo.

[jonah]

LFS labels don't mean squat! It could be anything. Just this Saturday I was at an LFS looking at an African tank that had several smaller species in it. A tag on the tank had a picture of a Neo. brichardi and the name Neo. multifasciatus (mis-spelled on the label). The fish was actually Neolamprologus brevis. I pointed out the error when I bought a couple (both males :x ) and they said that was what they bought them as. :roll:

Sorry for going off your topic. I did a search of "utilla" and all I could find was an island down in Honduras.

[FishoPhile J]

ok, if that's the case, then i guess i need to start flipping through the fish pics... i guess it's not too important, i'm just worried cause it looks similar to a buttikofferi, and i don't want it to grow too big (and i'd like to find out if it's fins will turn blue like some of it's lfs tank mates).

[Scotty]

Hey, is it possible that they called it a "Utaka"???

[FishoPhile J]

[quote:afeba3fe61="Scotty"]Hey, is it possible that they called it a "Utaka"???[/quote:afeba3fe61]

i don't think so... they were pretty specific with all their species names, but they didn't have anything labled as a group. i went flipping through some fish pics last night and the only one i found that looks slightly similar was the female "Protomelas 'steveni taiwan'". it made a note that this species has yet to be described scientificly... mabey that's why i can't find any info.

[Scotty]

Hey 8) If that's the case they probably did either say, or mean, Utaka. Utaka is not a species. It is a non scientific term that is applied by aquarists (sometimes incorrectly, see article) to Malawi Cichlids that don't fall into the Mbuna category. Basically, Mbuna = Small, rock dwelling species, and Utaka = open water (usually larger) species. So you do have what's sometimes called a Utaka. Here's a link that will explain it a little more clearly. Enjoy.......Scott 8)

http://www.malawicichlids.com/mw01018.htm

[Mbuniac]

I thing my LFS has all their africans mislabled! I've searched every website I could find, and can't locate the species named "Assorted African cichlids" :P

[Scotty]

:holidaysmile: :rofl: :holidaysmile: