Mystery Flowerhorn

Alright, so I've never cared that much for Flowerhorn Cichlids. I hadn't intended to purchase one. However, when purchasing a Texas Cichlid I received this instead. I went back to the shop with pictures of this and talked to the shop owner. He said he believes it's a Flowerhorn that they could not find longer account for on their inventory. He didn't know the strain because he doesn't keep track of things properly.

So I now have this 1" mystery Flowerhorn and no clue as to the strain. After studying it in the tank I'm fairly certain it is a Flowerhorn, partially due to what the LFS said and also do to this fish deciding it owns the entire open space of my 225gl tank. The Oscar, Green Terror, and handful of Convicts that share the space have gone from bickering over the tank to living in the rocks while this one sits out in the open and drives them back into the rocks whenever they come out.

So, my questions for you:
1). Do you concur that this is an FH?
2). Do you have any clue what strain it might be if it is an FH?

(I'll attempt some better pictures of the fish in question later today).

 

Kind of looks like it was a Flowerhorn and mixed with a Jack dempsey.

 

Kind of looks like it was a Flowerhorn and mixed with a Jack dempsey.

Before I confirmed with the shop owner that it was an FH I was looking into what hybrids it might be. JD seemed like something that could be in the mix. It's definitely an odd looking little fish, and so far no one has a clue what it is out of FH or FH x ???, I'm pretty sure it's actually just an FH, but just pretty sure. I thought maybe it might be a young Red Dragon, I've also found a few young King Kamfa that looked somewhat similar.

 

I do think that could be a baby flowerhorn but other pictures would help for sure

 

A little difficult to get a good picture of it. Every time I pull out my phone he hides.

 

It’s definitely mostly Flowerhorn, of course, that means its a big mix lol.

Now you lost me lol. It looks like a Jaguar x Jack Dempsey

 

I’m tapping out on this one

 

Now you lost me lol. It looks like a Jaguar x Jack Dempsey

Hahaha welcome to my world for the past week of trying to figure this thing out! I definitely don't think there's Jaguar in there. JD maybe, but the pearling isn't right for a JD.

Right now based on everything I've heard it's potential:
Cuban (obviously not)
Texas (maybe part)
FH (Seems the most likely, but also possibly part)
Umbee (maybe shape wise!?)
Jaguar (doesn't really look like a Jag at all)
Convict (at best 1/4th, but unlikely due to color)

 

The body shape looks exactly like a juvenile Jaguar, at least the ones we had at the store I worked at. I think what you have is simply a hybrid of the sorts

 

Talked with some FH breeders. Based on their knowledge I have a young Pearly Super Red Dragon that just hasn't faded yet. I'll update if/when it fades so we can all at least get the satisfaction of knowing. And if it never fades we'll probably have better luck figifigu it out once it's 4"+ rather than just over 1"

 

Talked with some FH breeders. Based on their knowledge I have a young Pearly Super Red Dragon that just hasn't faded yet. I'll update if/when it fades so we can all at least get the satisfaction of knowing. And if it never fades we'll probably have better luck figifigu it out once it's 4"+ rather than just over 1"

Can’t wait to see

 

I hope I am on the forum when you post your next set of photos. I would like to see how it turned out, so I am watching the thread.

 

He's a little stressed at the moment from me digging around in the tank, so his colors aren't showing as strongly as usual. But this is what the little guy is turning into.