Armatus ID? Still Black (Hydrolycus wallacei)

[furcifer158]

This guy is still turning darker. It has caught up to the other Armatus in the tank and is still the aggressor of the two. Took a few more pics during feeding time so the black one is all fat which i like. I just want to see another picture of an Arm like mine. They color is just so dark.

 

[sunnysjourney]

very cool! maybe they're from different regions...? Or a male & a female..? How big are they atm btw?

 

[shivam]

Wow thats a great color. Mine Armatus is the lightest it can get, so its weird to see an almost pitch black Armatus. Your substrate may make a difference on its color.

 

[kno4te]

He's defiantly an army. Not sure why one is dark and the other isn't.

 

[Toohard]

Very cool!

 

[moe214]

Could be different regions, could be a subspecies. But I highly doubt it cause this is the first case, that I've seen atleast, but the tank itself looks really dark so I wouldn't doubt it adapting to that overtime. Reason for the other not doing it? Idk.

 

[furcifer158]

The tank is a bit dark and that's what I thought, but having the other one never turn dark makes me question. They have been in this tank, 250G, for about 7 months. The black sand has been in about 4 months. Before that they were in a 55G with white sand. I have had this pair for a little over a year now. The black one has always been a shade darker than the other one and more aggressive. Just weird color too me. You would think that these two were collected together but I guess you never really know, so different regions seem hard to me. I bought them at the same time and both were similar in size. I guess what ever caused it I'm glad I get to keep a unique one. Wonder if the color will last once its over 20" only about 14" or so now

 

[furcifer158]

What do you think of the body shape? Look at the last two pics i posted side by side.

Black
`Rounder/Shorter fins
`Shorter body
`Steep angle to its jaw, around a 75 degree angle
`Pointed nose

Regular
`Pointed/Longer fins
`Elongated body
`More of a 45 degree angle
`Round/Larger nose

 

[furcifer158]

Could just be over thinking it too?

 

[krichardson]

All this armatus talk lately just about has me ready to get another one....but I must resist the urge.
It is certainly an interesting looking fish that I would like to have.I would go with it being a regional variant but if that were the case there should be more black ones seen in the hobby.