pseudotropheus Elongatus Chewere or Chalosi?

[GVsailor]

I recently purchased these fish as Pseudotropheus Elongatus Chewere.  One of the fish is coloring up differently, and I am wondering if I have chalosi instead or something else? 

I included a male as well for reference.

[GrizzlysDad]

The yellow patterned fish looks like P. flavus.

[robmc13]

Yes I do agree with Tony on the yellow one Looks like a Flavus to me too.

[GVsailor]

That was my original instinct as well.  The fish came from a reputable store.  Does the male look right to you?

[Ron]

While I've never bred them, the Elongatus Chewere I've seen have always had a diamond pattern of blue along their sides, where as yours have vertical barring. I suppose there's a chance that they grow into the diamond pattern from barring, but I suspect they don't. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 The best quality Chewere have really crisp diamonds, but the poorer quality fish do phase into what might be interpritted as incomplete barring, though not nearly as much as shown in your photos. IMO, there's a chance that what you have is a different elongatus or you've got a group of crossbred fish.

[robmc13]

The Flavus Male looks right from the photo.

I am not 100% on the second male you have there. The coloring seems ok for a Chewere but the stripping doesn't look right. That being said I just got my first Chewere not to long ago so I am sure others will have a idea on that one.

[GrizzlysDad]

I was leery to post a negative comment on the appearance of the supposed "Chewere" for the same reasons that have been mentioned. I didn't want to offend someone that may have been the breeder.
That being said, Ron is right..."Chewere" should have distinctive diamond pattern to the blue on the sides.
Unfortunately, with mass breeding of this fish (as well as so many others) we often start to lose the correct patterns on fish.
There is also the possibility that there was a contamination of incorrect females into the breeding stock, whether on purpose or by accident, that has resulted in the loss of proper pattern.
Unfortunately for you, Marty just closed out the latest group order and there were wild "Chewere" available at a very reasonable price.
Your fish is still attractive, but IMHO they are not true "Chewere" elongatus.

[Ron]

I just made a quick edit to my comment above to clarify my conclusion and remove any mention of flavus.

FWIW, none of those fish above are Ps. flavus. Flavus should have no blue highlights at all and those fish do. Perhaps Ps. sp. "Elongatus" Chailosi is the correct answer? Based on some googled images I wouldn't refute it, but as always, some of these species with many variants can  be hard to pin down with 100% accuracy without confirmation with the breeder.

[GVsailor]

I was kinda wondering if they might be Chalosi instead.  It's unfortunate that I can't find out who the breeder is.  They came from a retail store in Grand Rapids who usually is really good about having pure fish. 

Maybe I will get lucky at an auction and find a better group.

Now the real question, what do I do with these fish?

[GrizzlysDad]

I just made a quick edit to my comment above to clarify my conclusion and remove any mention of flavus.

FWIW, none of those fish above are Ps. flavus. Flavus should have no blue highlights at all and those fish do. Perhaps Ps. sp. "Elongatus" Chailosi is the correct answer? Based on some googled images I wouldn't refute it, but as always, some of these species with many variants can  be hard to pin down with 100% accuracy without confirmation with the breeder.

I have actually seen wild P. flavus that had slight tint of blue around the facial area.

[robmc13]

My group of Flavus as well have that slight tint of blue and mine are a F1 group.

[Ron]

I have actually seen wild P. flavus that had slight tint of blue around the facial area.

My group of Flavus as well have that slight tint of blue and mine are a F1 group.

Thanks for the correction guys.
Rob, the slight tint is only on the face or along the dorsal fin and back like the images shared above?

[GVsailor]

I found out today that these came from old world.  What kind of experience have you all had regarding the purity of his fish?

[TailFinsLLC]

I have no doubt after looking at the pictures that they are definitely pseudotropheus elongatus chailosi, the first pictures are of males and the last is of a female. I have a lot of experience with old worlds fish and would bet that they are F1s, his fish are always of high quality.