dwarf that seem to change color

dwarf idenification/question

there's probably a very logical explanation for this, but I don't know what it is. I have a dwarf cichlid (doesn't have a common name and don't recall the latin) that seems to be changing color, almost according to his mood. sometimes he is white with a thin black stripe running from his gills to his tail, another one running from his eye to his chin, and a pair running along each side of the dorsal fin. at times, the longer strip seems to fade away partially, and other times it fades completely and his turns brownish-black with pailer diamond paterns (not quite vertical stripes or bands, but close). I've seen both patterns appear under shade, medium, and bright light, and the darker pattern generally appears when his is relaxed/not active. His head is blue, green, and gold, turning to gold on the underside of the mouth and chin. Is it posible he is changing his appearance somehow or is it just the light and/or angle?
 
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I cant be sure because i dont know what species it is but most cichlids, esspecially dwarfs do change colour w/ mood. Its natural and isnt hurting your fish.
 
AlwaysConfused said:
I cant be sure because i dont know what species it is but most cichlids, esspecially dwarfs do change colour w/ mood. Its natural and isnt hurting your fish.

thanks - wanted to be sure I wasn't just going crazy or hilucinating or something. Based on research, it looks like either a Cockatoo or an Agassiz's, but neither are really a strong match. Planning to go back to the LFS and get whatever info I can.
 
If youd like to try and figure out which of the two species it is check here :

A. agassizii - http://gallery.apistoexp.com/index.php?album=Apistogramma/A.+agassizii&sortby=name&order=asc

A. cacatuoides - http://gallery.apistoexp.com/index.php?album=Apistogramma/A.+cacatuoides&sortby=name&order=asc

There are plenty of images so you should be able to ID which one it is as well as possibly the variety. Try and differentiate them by fin and body characteristics first not color patterns so much.

Andrew
 
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