Diagnosis: Paretroplus tsimoly is distinguished from all congerners in life and preservation by the possession of markedly enlarged, lobed bluish-gray to bluish-black (in life) or dark bluish-gray (in preservation) lips in adults; in addition, P. tsimoly, is distinguished from all congeners except P. lamenabe and P. nourissati by the presence of two wide, dark brown to black midlateral bands that converge below the lateral midline, representing the second and third, or third and fourth, bars in series (Ref. 78623). Paretroplus tsimoly is further distinguished from both P. lamenabe and P. nourissati by a lateral pigmentation pattern in which the posteriormost five, or four, as the bar on the caudal peduncle is sometimes pale, bars on the flank are about equally prominent, vs. only central two bars strongly pigmented and prominent in P. lamenabe and P. nourissati (Ref. 78623).

Description: Mature individuals possess prominent lobed blue lips (Ref. 40691). Small scales deeply embedded on chest and belly (Ref. 40691). Accessory parapophyses restricted to the anterior two caudal vertebral centra (Ref. 40691). With rounded soft anal and dorsal fin extensions passing beyond caudal fin origin; caudal fin emarginate; pelvic fins cover the genital papilla when adducted, but do not reach anal fin origin (Ref. 40691).

Colouration: Upper half of head pale beige, a faint narrow interorbital stripe present; snout with distinct pale orange hue in large adults; lips, lower jaw, lower cheek, branchiostegal membranes and chest bluish grey to dusky purple; dorsum and flanks pale beige, lightening towards the ventrum; flanks traversed by 5 or 6 dark grey bars extending from dorsum to the ventrum; axil of pectoral fin with a dark spot, though not always visible; vertical and ventral fins smoky beige, broadly edged in bright red; pectorals uniformly smoky red and the iris of the eye ringed red (Ref. 40691). Parental individuals with upper half of head, nape and body brilliant golden orange and the vertical bars are intense blue-black (Ref. 40691).