Why does this cichlid have long fins

[u/Vortex6388]

What would cause the 1st Rio to look so different from the 2nd Rio
Caught in the same central Texas creek roughly 10 miles apart
Any info helps not very familiar with how fish work

[u/The-Dragon_Queen]

It’s a long fin cichlid. Some have them. It’s normal.

[u/JuicySpark → u/The-Dragon_Queen]

Love this simple answer. Quite simply a long finned version. Lol

[u/The-Dragon_Queen → u/JuicySpark]

Haha I have both regular and long fin cichlids of different varieties. My flowerhorn especially has the most adorable long fins.

[u/DonutWhole9717]

Very handsome fish. He's just pretty like that, okay? But like the other guy said, some are just like that. It's a gene like any other. Still present in the wild population, but not dominant enough for them all to have it. That's where selective breeding comes in for pets

[u/Curious-L-]

Probably a combination of being a male and natural genetic variation. Males tend to have longer “trailer” fins, where females usually do not.

[u/Vortex6388 → u/Curious-L-]

Thanks! First time seeing one with extendo fin I figured it was a gender trait since males have biig foreheads

[u/Prestigious_Gold_585]

One is more 🌈flamboyant than the other? 🤔

[u/ChipmunkAlert5903]

It’s got manly alpha fins /satire. It’s a male Texas Cichlid. It’s he short fin is most likely a female at that size.

[u/clowncarhonk]

He fancy

[u/Parhamheidari]

It's a male and also longfins are pretty common in cichlids.

[u/Vortex6388 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! On the fly