West African Mystery Fish

[aquaticclarity]

I need some help...but don't we all? I got these fish in as Benitochromis sp. "Ndonga". They are wild. I thought I had them identified, but now that they are starting to court I'm not so sure. There is a ton of red in the dorsal and very bright white markings as well. The pictures are a little fuzzy as the fish are in a 30 gallon tank viewed from one end with only a little light overhead-sorry.

Any idea what they are?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[tjudy]

I wonder if it is another variety of B. nigrodorsalis. Ndonga and Moliwe are that too distant from each other. Great color in the dorsal of the female. A lot like a Chromidotilapia species!

 

[aquaticclarity]

My guess was B. nigrodorsalis "Ndonga" as the fish lacked the black dorsal markings which the Ndonga population of nigrodorsalis do lack. But the red is throwing me. It shouldn't be there in a nigrodorsalis, at least any that I've seen pictures of. The 50+ B. nigrodorsalis Moliwe that I have don't really show any red except hints in the extreme edge of the dorsal and you have to squint to see it. These fish almost looks like an off shoot of Chromidotilapia melaniae...with some B. nigrodorsalis black dorsal marks thrown in!

Jeff