armatus vs scomb

[a.mellon4]

What are the differences between the two besides the size? also why are the scombs way cheaper?

Thank you

 

[Gbusiness]

There is a sticky here to give you more detail. But, the easiest way to ID a armatus? Is to look at the adipsoe fin (very small fin between the dorsal and caudal fin). The adipsoe fin should be orange (base) and the tip of the fin will be black. 3" and up you can easily see this marking 2" or less the fin has not developed the coloring yet.
Another good thing to look at is the lining of the gill plates. Scomb will have a black spot and that's it. A armatus will have a thin black lining that will follow vertical with it's gill plate. Tat's also have this lining so you'll have to look at other markings to ID. Like the tail color.
Armatus also have a white lining on there outer part of the fins. I'm guessing it's easier seen on specimen 6" and up? I have only 2-3" H.armatus currently and I can't see the whitish fade yet.
I've never owned scomb's, but I've read that they like to stay in groups.

 

[Burgess]

I have owned a scomb it was easy to care for up to the 9 -10" mark then it died ....there are a few rare big ones in aquariums out there but that is it. ....if you had a big tank like say 125g or so it would prob get past the 10" mark.

I first got mine and it jumped out of the tank face first( he was fine and there was some paper on the ground at the time they are hardy) ......So if ya get one make sure there is a top ...all so don't feed them to much it will kick the bucket that might be why mine died he ate a lot of feeder fish i had tryed to get him to eat frozen food with no luck.

Ps Good luck there both BA fish

It was very aggressive i like him/her very much.

But most scomb's will die at around 10" it will happen out of the blue might smash face on glass i really don't know but they die.

 

[West1]

Do a search on YouTube... I think the movies would speak for themselves

 

[Otherone]

Armatus get much larger although never as large as their true wild potential. There are many myths surrounding both species as to why many of them do not do well in captivity, however both species have and are being kept successfully in the hobby for several years anyways. I'm yet to read about any Payara lasting 7-10 years or reaching lengths of 30 or more inches. All 3 Hydrolycus species do have differing characteristics, very distiguishing when they are larger however juvi's can be down right difficult to the untrained eye. Scombs do not have a curved underside like Armatus and Tats, their tailfins are also noticably smaller, they won't have a piont in the middle of the tail fin and the top of the dorsal will not curve to a piont either. I can only speculate as to price differences - I've seen Rhaphs for $20 - $80, Scombs from $20-$100, Tats from $30 -$200 but never an Armatus for less than $100+ and most over $200 lately. More than likely the other species are easier to come by on collection trips but once again it's only a guess.

 

[West1]

Can't say you never seen Armatus under $100.00 cause this is the 3rd/4th import Rich (Infinate Aquatics) has brought in at under $100.00ea .
A Lil off topic but Rich is an Awesome frigging vendor!! Just seen he brought in some super rare L025 (Scarlett Plecos) and sold all 10+ pcs in less than 30min

 

[krichardson]

More than likely the other species are easier to come by on collection trips but once again it's only a guess.

As good a guess as any and one that I share.