That's a good point about the lack of an extension to the midlateral spot. I thought that might have been a consequence of the faded colors, but perhaps not. The yellowish cast of the photo may also be a bit deceiving. I'd like to see better pics when the pattern is more pronounced. You may very well be correct. Is L. curviceps out of the picture for that matter? I assume the vertical bars on the rear flank disqualify that possibility?
Aequidens ID??
- Thread starter shawe1
- Start date
That's a good point about the lack of an extension to the midlateral spot. I thought that might have been a consequence of the faded colors, but perhaps not. The yellowish cast of the photo may also be a bit deceiving. I'd like to see better pics when the pattern is more pronounced. You may very well be correct. Is L. curviceps out of the picture for that matter? I assume the vertical bars on the rear flank disqualify that possibility?
I think I misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying that L. thayeri was formerly known as L. dorsigera. My bad.
My L. thayeri showed the extension even when in a faded pattern, that's how I knew that they weren't the curviceps they were being sold as. The red/orange dorsal lining vs white rules out L. curviceps, but I know there is at least one curviceps race that has that coloration, but it's rare and not likely to be sold as an unknown acara.
I have kept A Dorsigerus...they really don't display that color outside of breeding.
True, the intensity of the red fades outside of breeding and/or territorial displays. But the L. dorsigera I've kept were consistently colorful once mature.
Breeding
Non-breeding
I'm still pretty convinced it's Laetacara from those pictures, based on the shape of the head and the faint presence of the "smiling" mark which is where "smiling acaras" get their name. Still, it's lacking a dorsal spot that I've seen in all my L. dorsigera, so even though dorsigera don't always show the red breast, they do usually keep their dorsal spot. Here are mine in and out of breeding coloration:
There's still the possibility that it's some larger acara, but the size and shape of the head seems off to me for one of the full-sized acaras. It's hard to explain, just the impression I get looking at the pictures.
There's still the possibility that it's some larger acara, but the size and shape of the head seems off to me for one of the full-sized acaras. It's hard to explain, just the impression I get looking at the pictures.
