[JWhipple]

I've had these guys for a few months now, and thought they were blackbelt Viejas, but they are growing taller instead of longer! They were part of a Central/south american assortment.

Feedback please!

 

[SinisterKisses]

They're Viejas, but they look like they might be slightly short-bodied, which is why they appear so tall.

 

[a7oneal]

Agreed.

Sin, do you think they look like blackbelts? The pattern on the one may suggest it, but I'm admittedly not as experienced with juvenile Vieja individuals.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Lol I'm not really that good with Vieja identification yet either...Morbid - or I think she uses straightjacket on here? - is the person to ask for sure. But to my not-so-experienced eye, they do seem to be blackbelt babies.

 

[straitjacketstar]

BB's for sure and...

but they look like they might be slightly short-bodied, which is why they appear so tall.

...ditto on that!

I noticed that on the first few pictures you posted of them.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/view ... t=#1126519
Nothing big. A little short-end of the genetics stick? lol
I think it makes them cuter.

 

[JWhipple]

One of these guys was injured pretty bad today in a fight - looking for medical advise! - posted in this thread: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/view ... p?t=170816

 

[straitjacketstar]

Sorry to hear about it.
I bought my BB's as a young unsexed pair. It just didn't work out. They're very aggressive in general and even more toward one another. That really made them unappealing for me.
When I have a huge tank of several hundred gallons or a pond I'll want to keep one again.

 

[JWhipple]

I guess you can see where I am coming from as far as the body shape goes... Here's a photo from the current photo contest of a severum that looks extremely similar in body shape, which leads me to believe that these fish (mine) are a hybrid.

 

[straitjacketstar]

I don't think they're hybrids. Just deformed.
They don't show any non-BB characteristics besides the shortness of the body and I've seen short bodied Xenotilapia, mbuna, eartheaters, livebearers, tetras etc. that were not hybrids.