Is it a Keyhole Cichlid?

[Waylander]

I want to add a keyhole cichlid to my new 40 gallon tank as I've heard they are peaceful and full of personality. However, my lfs has a tank labelled keyhole cichlid, but the fish in it do not have the same markings as pictures I have seen on the internet.

It's the same shape and has the same sort of finnage to the pictures I have seen, but the body is covered in thick dark vertical stripes, not just the one over the eye and the keyhole mark (the keyhole mark, if it's actually a keyhole cichlid, seems to have turned into a stripe as well sort of...)... The base body colour appears to be the same...

Are the vertical stripes a stress response or something by the Keyhole Cichlid? Or is this just some other species all together?

Thanks,

Kieren

 

[jessicar613]

It's hard to tell without a picture, but that sounds like it could be a keyhole. When they are stressed or hiding they have more of a dark brown, mottled appearance. The keyhole does become a stripe somewhat; and there is the stripe across the eye. The space between is dark and mottled. When they are comfortable the dark brown markings fade and they are a beautiful champagne color with a vivid keyhole. If the keyholes in the fish store never look that way, I'd be concerned. But who knows, they might color right up in your tank.

They are great fish. I love mine.

Check out this link; it has a picture of a frightened keyhole cichlid. lol

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/11/404/

 

[Waylander]

Thanks for the response Jessicar.

I went back into the shop today with the purpose of taking a closer look at said fish, instead of the fleeting glimpse I got the other day. Upon closer inspection it is quite obvious that it was not, in fact, a keyhole cichlid. Guess I'll just have to wait and see if they end up getting some in.

 

[KingOfTheDeep]

keyholes are great little cichlids, good luck finding one, you'll be very happy with them