Need a final ID

[iamzrad]

I got mixed ID's for this guy, and possible hybrid qualities.
Kenyi, exasperatus and tropheops mixes.

He changes colors, from light blue to dark blue almost purple.

CCA members know best, so any help is appreciated!

Here's some shots of a dinky little point and shoot,

*kicking myself I didn't have the DSLR setup for this shot!!

 

[dogofwar]

My best guess is that he's a hybrid mbuna with some Pseudotropheus, Tropheops, and maybe some Labeotropheus in him (for the funny nose). He's a pretty fish but probably not "pure"...

 

[iamzrad]

Yeah, he is very unique, but I want to close down on the ID for this guy.
He's quiet most of the time, but like all fish, he will pick on "new comers" in the tank, but after a week or so, he settles back down.
He's about 5-5.5" as well.

 

[longstocking]

I have to agree... the face is off. Hybrid or deformed.

 

[iamzrad]

Metriaclima estherae?

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=791

Same face features, you have to take in account this guy is around 4 years old.
But has a more purple than blue color.

 

[longstocking]

Nope.... sorry.

 

[Charlutz]

Where did you get him and what was he sold as? If you can't identify it, it's a hybrid or (less likely) a specimen that is so poor it doesn't look like others of its species. No offense intended, just trying to be objective about what I see.

 

[iamzrad]

The only thing I remember when I bought him was that he was labeled as "Mixed Cichlids" some years ago.

 

[maddog10]

About 90% (maybe even more) of the time, fish sold as 'mixed cichlids' are hybrids. They often come from the fish farms and sometimes fish seem to migrate from one pond to another.

 

[SubMariner]

I think it's one of those long pelvic Mbunas.