I have seen countless information in various places, especially in places you wouldn't expect to see it that confuse these 2 very very different species. I am not very well versed with either, however, after doing some research I have discovered a few things:
a.) Paratheraps synspilum A.K.A. the Quetzal cichlid is a herbivore feeding mainly on fruits, berries and seeds that fall into the water
b.) it is a very mild mannered cichlid that will get along with almost anything willing to show dual-toleration for it.
c.) it's other common names the "Red-faced" or "Fire-faced" or "Fire-headed" cichlid have caused a lot of confusion between it and it's larger more aggressive carnivorous cousin Vieja synspila, the "Red-headed cichlid".
d.) Vieja synspila IMO, appears to be much more closely related to Amphilophus members than that of Vieja or Cichlasoma, at least based on physical characteristics and basic anatomy. Questionably this may also be one of the "secret ingredients" used in producing at least some strains of Flowerhorn.
e.) As far as I can tell Paratheraps synspilum does NOT get a nuchal hump, or at least from what I can tell from my own 4-inch male. 3-4 Inches is generally when I start noticing nuchal humps forming, and even at 4-inches, my male Flowerhorn's is very well pronounced already.
Why such a big confusion and why so much misleading information out there on these 2? Does anyone else have more ID markers and definitive differences they noticed? I'd like to read some more opinions and/or facts relevant to this topic, as well as advice on keeping healthy specimens (I admit this is my 1st Paratheraps synspilum) and possibly even breeding them.
a.) Paratheraps synspilum A.K.A. the Quetzal cichlid is a herbivore feeding mainly on fruits, berries and seeds that fall into the water
b.) it is a very mild mannered cichlid that will get along with almost anything willing to show dual-toleration for it.
c.) it's other common names the "Red-faced" or "Fire-faced" or "Fire-headed" cichlid have caused a lot of confusion between it and it's larger more aggressive carnivorous cousin Vieja synspila, the "Red-headed cichlid".
d.) Vieja synspila IMO, appears to be much more closely related to Amphilophus members than that of Vieja or Cichlasoma, at least based on physical characteristics and basic anatomy. Questionably this may also be one of the "secret ingredients" used in producing at least some strains of Flowerhorn.
e.) As far as I can tell Paratheraps synspilum does NOT get a nuchal hump, or at least from what I can tell from my own 4-inch male. 3-4 Inches is generally when I start noticing nuchal humps forming, and even at 4-inches, my male Flowerhorn's is very well pronounced already.
Why such a big confusion and why so much misleading information out there on these 2? Does anyone else have more ID markers and definitive differences they noticed? I'd like to read some more opinions and/or facts relevant to this topic, as well as advice on keeping healthy specimens (I admit this is my 1st Paratheraps synspilum) and possibly even breeding them.
