Topic: Help with Protomelas taeniolatus (Red Empress)

[raphael_cintra]

Greetings forum friends,

One of the worst problemns here in Brazil is the lack of Cichlids Creators, forcing us to buy in fish stores. The problemn to buy in this places , is the fact that employes don't have any knowledge of the species.

Well i buy this fish as a Protomelas Taeniolatus (Red Empress), but i really concerned if it's really a Red Empress...he's very small (about 1.38 inches or 3,5 cm)...the fish store employe told me that he's a very young Red Empress male.

Can somenone help me ? Here's is it:





* - Sorry about the low image quality.

Many thank's for the help

Best regard's

[Gerry]

Sorry, I have no idea, Hope one of the African gurus can help

[raphael_cintra]

Many thank´s Geery for you reply.

I will wait for ohter replys.

See a

[gaglio]

To me it appear that it is very possible wen looking at a reference like this one [url=http://www.malawimayhem.com/profile_show.php?id=377]http://www.malawimayhem.com/profile_show.php?id=377[/url] your appears to me to possibly be a male but To know for sure he'll have to get bigger but i think you have a good shot!

[raphael_cintra]

Hey there Gaglio!

Thank's for your post...i hope that you told me (about be a youg RE male) become true!

I saw the link (reference)...the youg male is already colorful, and mine still silver, with a red/brown line dorsal fin...i read on some website that only males have this "color line"...other thing you can notice, is that the black marks on my fish is quite diferent.

Here are some better imagens:



Many thank's friends

[altaaffe]

I recognise it but the name doesn't spring to mind nor does the name you were advised, I'd look through my books but they're in the other house packed in a box unfortunately.  I'll keep thinking though.

[raphael_cintra]

Greetings Altaaffe,

Ummm...so on your opion it's not a Red Empress...too bad...

I hope you remember the name or unpack your book 

Must be at least a Hap's / Peack's specie.

Best regard's

[gaglio]

thought id Try again. This time the juvenile picture strongly resembles your pictured fish http://www.malawimayhem.com/profile_show.php?id=447 I think that its a match but maybe not.. if so that's still a good lookin fish when it matures!