What is my fish???

[TropicFoosh]

Hey guys!

I kind of adopted a fish with a tank I got. I know he's a Cichlid but I don't know what kind - my closest guess is Geophagus Suriname or Pandine(?). Here's a bad pic of him/her attached. Does anyone know what Foosh is? He's a very sad fish... Hides all the time and I'd really like to know what I can do to make him happy. Water tested fine. I've got a Danio troop and a Chinese Golden algae eater in with him (hoping to bring him out of his shell) but the poor old guy (he is about 15 years old) is still hiding... I feel so sorry for him!

The pic doesn't show it, but he has iridescent blue spots all along his body and just under his eye.

Any help/advice would really be appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[Mark Z.]

Not sure exactly what he is, but if he is a geophagus, he might be happier with sand substrate instead of gravel.

 

[hobby5]

15 years? That is remarkable! Give him some time. You should cover the back of the tank with something. It will make the fish more secure. What is your tank size, water parameters, temp? Was there a large change in water parameters from his old home to your place?

Sorry I have no idea, what kind of fish it is, but some Geophagus could be.

 

[Tyler_Fishman]

yes I can definitely say it is some kind of earth eater of the Geophagus sp. I'm not really keen on cichlids, if you haven't figured out the species in 15 years; have you considered that it may be a hybrid? Ive never owned a Geophagus specimen in my lifetime so I wouldn't know anything about it's hybridization. Just food for thought

 

[TropicFoosh]

Hey all! Thanks so much for the feedback. I now know he is definitely geophagus Suriname. I've had him for 4 days and today he is a completely different fish! He is doing great and loving his clean tank - even his colouring has improved. After so long of not being looked after he finally has a good home and he's a very happy fish!

 

[Cichlidslover]

Great! I'm glad things worked out