Thorichthys sex and i.d please?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Absolutely NOT a T. pasiones .
It does look like it could be a "Gold" aureus . Also reminds me a bit of gold mixteco as well. It really is nearly impossible to say unless you know the collection data . Eliioti/maculipinnis is a possibility as well . I try to only get Thorichthys with collection data available anymore . I know this wasn't alot of help . I jsut can't say and be 100% positive on which species it is . I can say very confidently thogh that it is not a pasiones as pasiones gular area is BLACk not r ed as the fish in your 1st picture has
HTH
Tim
 
This might help a little bit but as some members were alluding to some species have variations like ellioti and aureus

28785825247300819776719.jpg
 
1st picture has hth? (hole in the head?) thats just a blue spec, he hasnt got anything on his head.
 
He looks closest to Pasionis like i said before out of those pics, except mine has the red at the bottom like a Meeki
 
Pasionis is almost identical to a meeki (Firemouth) other than the red colorations is more orange gold... They have longer snouts and no blue spangles on the head or face. Yours is more likened to the Aureus ellioti type species.
 
I have to disagree that it is not possible to be an ellioti . I have seen plenty of ellioti with very weak spangling. Also the aureus picture in the post with all the other Thors looks nothing like any aureus I have ever seen . There is always variability in coloration and patterns etc in fish .
I kind of veiw Thorichthys in the same amnner I view Vics.... if you are unsure of the source and can't get collection info for aureus , maculipinnis / ellioti or mixteco types ......pass them up until you can find a reliable source . I try to trace mine back to Rusty Wessel , someone I trust has the fish Identified correctly.
HTH
Tim
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com