Texas Cichlids.

2283 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by simo1973, Feb 22, 2011

Jimothy_Bobbins

Discussion Starter · Feb 20, 2011

Hi guys,

I've never kept Cichlids before but when I was looking at fish to put in my new tank I decided on two Texas Cichlids that I just couldn't resist! I've had them home a week or so now and they are great fun to watch digging around and pulling my plants up :lol:

Anyway, just thought I'd join and say hi as I've just stumbled upon this forum while searching for info on them.

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Jimothy_Bobbins

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 20, 2011

Here is a picture of my male, hope you like him!

100_2035 by Jimothy_Bobbins, on Flickr

and here he is with the female.

100_2036 by Jimothy_Bobbins, on Flickr

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Rupununi

· #3 · Feb 20, 2011

Your specimens are beauties! To be more precise, however, they are "Green Texas Cichlids" or "Pearlscale cichlids" (Herichthys carpintis), not to be confused with the "true" Texas cichlid, Herichthys cyanoguttatus (which is more appropriately called the Rio Grande cichlid by biologists). Virtually any pet store or online supplier selling Texas cichlids are selling the Mexican species Herichthys carpintis rather than Texas-native Herichthys cyanoguttatus, the true Texas cichlid. H. carpintis is arguably prettier anyway so unless you are really concerned about having the species native to Texas, then you're better off with H. carpintis.

I recently ordered some H. cyanoguttatus from a "reputable" online cichlid dealer and I came to realize that despite calling them H. cyanoguttatus on the website, they were actually H. carpintis. The dealer admitted it when asked directly about it on the phone. I live in Texas and wanted a native Texas fishes tank so was bummed to get H. carpintis. Nevertheless, they are doing great in my tank and are really coloring up nicely. Texas cichlids share a common ancestor with Pearlscale cichlids anyway, so they are as close genetically as you can get. Here's a photo of one of my H. carpintis:

Just thought I'd share my perspective on these two spectacular cichlids.

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Jimothy_Bobbins

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 21, 2011

Hi Rupununi,

Thank you very much for your reply. Glad you like my fish! Yours is lovely too! Thank you for telling me that they are in fact 'Green' Texas Cichlids and for explaining what this means. Could you confirm for me, is the green texas Cichlid actually a Hybrid or is a species all of its own? Just interested..

I am really enjoying watching these guys, to the extent where I am thinking of changing my 4ft comunity tank for a few more Cichlids! Not sure which ones though!

Thanks again. :thumb:

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Rupununi

· #5 · Feb 21, 2011

Jimothy_Bobbins said:
Hi Rupununi,

Thank you very much for your reply. Glad you like my fish! Yours is lovely too! Thank you for telling me that they are in fact 'Green' Texas Cichlids and for explaining what this means. Could you confirm for me, is the green texas Cichlid actually a Hybrid or is a species all of its own? Just interested..

I am really enjoying watching these guys, to the extent where I am thinking of changing my 4ft comunity tank for a few more Cichlids! Not sure which ones though!

Thanks again. :thumb:

Green Texas cichlids are a distinct species, not a hybrid. The species is Herichthys carpintis.

Here is a nice profile of the H. carpintis:
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Herichthys&species=carpintis&id=226

Compare to H. cyanoguttatus:

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Herichthys&species=cyanoguttatus&id=805

Oddly, the profile on the cichlid forum.com website says that H. carpintis has smaller spots than H. cyanoguttatus, but in fact it is the opposite. H. cyanoguttatus has many small, blue iridescent spots whereas H. carpintis has the larger, more greenish/pearly colored spots.

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