Name: Hybrid Lithochromis xanthopteryx

Synonym: Black pseudonigricans

Common name:

Location: Lake Victoria

Adult size: males: 4 inches (10 cm), Females: 3 inches (7 cm)

Diet: Algae

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Personal notes: I obtained a colony of Lithochromis xanthopteryx as fry in 2011. I was initially concerned about the fact that the two males lookes so different. I had never kept this species before but the fairly distinct vertical barring and the yellow and red between the vertical barring of both males made me suspicious that something might not be quite right. As they matured, the dominant male lost the coloring between the vertical bars but maintained an orange color on the snout much like a P. sp. "crimson tide" and the subdominant male (shown below) looked even more like a crimson tide. I asked several experienced hobbyists and they confirmed that I had a hybrid. Unfortunately, this particular hybrid is very common in the US hobby and is sold as both Lithochromis xanthopteryx and as Pundamilia sp. "crimson tide".

And as adults (above) they've lost the red on the snout.

The dominant male pictured above is an incredibly beautiful cichlid none the less.

You can see how dramatically different the subdominant male above looks as compared to the dominant male.

Above is what the females look like.

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