What Are These?

[Jay_SMART_Diver]

Anyone have an Idea of what the name of these fish are. Found in Lake Travis Austin, Texas around Rio Grande Perch and Sunfish.

 

[SubMariner]

Anyone have an Idea of what the name of these fish are. Found in Lake Travis Austin, Texas around Rio Grande Perch and Sunfish.

I was going to say Green Sunfish, but the stripes are throwing things off.

Hmmm...

 

[Jay_SMART_Diver]

They look very much like the Rio Grande Perch in shape and with the spots but the white face is throwing me off

 

[SubMariner]

They look very much like the Rio Grande Perch in shape and with the spots but the white face is throwing me off

Hmm... the face doesn't seem to be shaped quite right for a RGP/Texas Cichlid. They seem to have a more "sunfishy" type of face to me.

 

[rhine64]

Correct on the call. They are indeed Rio Grande Perch. They probably are exhibiting some sexual dimorphism. The males get some big heads on 'em.

 

[archman]

That may be a behavior-induced colour pattern. Breeding or fighting. I don't see any visible sexual dimorphism on either fish, and they're both too small to see the size-related head humps characteristic on many cichlids. Texas cichlids display a great deal of variation in coloration, and frequently don't match up well with a book picture or photo.

 

[Dee]

It's the Ria Grande Perch in their mating colors. Very beautiful. After mating they return to their 'normal' colors.

 

[archman]

It's the Ria Grande Perch in their mating colors. Very beautiful. After mating they return to their 'normal' colors.

Hey Dee, could you elaborate? I don't know squat about how this species breeds. Is there a book I can pick up?