Urgent fish ID

[dixaisy930]

So, this is what I get for trusting a lfs employee...while glancing in a guppy and tetra tank, I noticed one fellow that was out of place. No name tag, nothing...I asked what he was, and the guy said he just came in with the ghost shrimp. So, since they couldn't tell me what it was, they just gave him to me. He was very docile, and didn't bother anyone while I watched for ten minutes. One lady said he was a pencilfish. I've looked at the dwarf pencilfish, and a few other types, and he really doesn't resemble them.

He has sort of a stocky body (sort of like a platy body shape) but the mouth is pretty blunt and rounded. His coloring is a light tan, and slightly darker brown spots, and on one side of his body there is a single black spot, and a smaller black spot on the pectoral fin, close to the body. He is about the size of a dwarf puffer (around an inch). He has a very peaceful demenor (a little skittish though, but who can blame him). Sorry I have no picture...maybe some kind soul will be able to lead me in the right directions. (maybe he is a pencilfish, I just haven't found his particular kind).

 

[reg2k2]

Are these spots kinda large and along bottom half of the body?
Didn't sound like a pencilfish to me either, but a quick check brought up...Espe's Pencilfish?

 

[dixaisy930]

The brown spots are all over his body, but the black dot is about the size of four pin heads, and basically in the middle of his body.

The fish I have doesn't have such a slender body (that's why I really didn't think it would be a pencilfish...doesn't really seem to match the name) lol

 

[harried_mom]

You are brave to take an unknown fish. Hopefully as he grows, he'll continue his peaceful ways!

Sorry I can't help with the id.

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

If you can mix and match parts of these fish what would it be


ok pencil fish (Nannostomus unifasciatus)

another type

Danio rerio

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi or Ram cichlid

 

[dixaisy930]

The danio and pencilfish are too slender, and none of the coloring match up. The ram has sort of the same body shape, but the head doesn't look the same. I think the fish has a mouth more like the danio than the ram.

Looking at the coloring earlier, it almost resembles a checker-board pattern (loosely).

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

ok lets try again
kilifish

Lepomis humilis

Nothobranchius rachovii

Exodon paradoxus

what you need to do is to go to fishbase.org and scroll through all the photos and you may see the one you have.

i have given you the science name you can do a search on the familys above if they look the same.

 

[pendragon]

I suppose it could also be a crossbred hybrid of some type. Might not be easily identifiable if so.

pendragon!

 

[SirMinion]

Ok, lets have a go
With its size and shape it sounds like some sort of American characin or barb to me, many small fish have a body spot, or false eye on their flank.

Here's a few options..

Anostomus gracillis Spotted Headstander - too thin?

Hemigrammus stictus Red Base Tetra -too green? This is an adult, they are browner when small.

Barbus Stoliczkanus Tic-tac-toe Barb. -too orange?
any help?

 

[dixaisy930]

THANK YOU!!!

It has the exact same body as the Nothobranchius rachovii, just a different color. I try to find the color match...thanks!

 

[Rivermud76]

THat is an awesome looking Killifish Fozzy!!!

 

[dixaisy930]

I posted two pics of the fish in the aquarium pic section...