Just out of interest do we, can we, or have we ever had Trimac Cichlids in NZ?

It isn't on the allowable import list as far as I can  see. (or at least the copy of it that is saved to my computer)

Pretty sure I've heard mention of people here with them though.  And aren't flowerhorns a hybrid which includes Trimac?  They get in somehow...

Yeah I'm pretty they are one if the cichlids used for flowerhorn.  They look to much alike to not be. Such a buggar they are not on the list. What about black belt cichlids have they ever shown face in Nz? Does the import list get reviewed or updated at all?

Yes trimac was one of the species used in the creation of the flowerhorn, and there have been some fairly trimac-ish FH's for sale here over the years. The problem now is that the true species is very hard to get as the bloodlines have been sullied with hybrid blood over the years, buying wild-caught (or F1-2 young) from a reputable breeder is often the only way to be 100% sure.

God that sucks dosent it. I am really not a fan of hybridizing fish for these reasons. I know sometimes the odd beautiful one pops out but still not sure we have the right to play god so to speak.