Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Help with fish ID,Thanks

Good job, Meadow! I think you're right, although I've never seen one.

Everybody want an ichthyology lecture? If not, quit reading now. :-)

If this is a Rio Grande perch, then the American Fisheries Society lists its "offical" common name as Rio Grande cichlid.

This really is a unique fish in the United States. The family Cichlidae is primarily found in South America and Africa. Many of them are in the pet stores, and many have naturalized in Florida after escape from fish farms or release by aquarium hobbyists. Even the freshwater angelfish in pet stores are a member of this family.

The Rio Grande cichlid is our only native cichlid in the United States. Back when I raised cichlids, I always wanted to have some of these.

The Cichlidae family is actually what biologists term "ecological equivalents." I always talk about the Cichlidae family to my students, and show them how similar they are in diversity to the Centrarchidae family (sunfishes, black basses) in our country. The peacock bass is a cichlid and an ecological equivalent perhaps of our largemouth bass. Many of you have undoubtedly seen them on the fishing shows. There are cichlids that are more panfish-like, such as the oscars that you can see in pet stores and catch in some Florida canals. There are cichlids with small mouths like our bluegills. There are cichlids with intermediate mouths like our green sunfish.

Anyhow, I think it's pretty cool. :-)