Nice pics. i agree... very hard for me to tell difference. also what about a gold mota as well? how to determine the three.
Differences between Motaguense and Friedrichsthalii
- Thread starter Jimmy Side eye
- Start date
young_rico;3679222; said:
Join the cause brother!!!! Im no Ichtheologist, but there must be a clear cut way of determining the difference between the two, especially in very similar, regional variants of both species. Its easy for people to state that a fish is one species and not another, but im interested in the finer details of how they are sure.
Freshwaterpredators;3679275; said:
Yeah i know mate, this can be even more confusing. LOL
Maybe without knowing exact collection points, we would just have to accept that there may be some very grey areas when it comes to correctly identifying some similar looking fish. Its not all so black and white as i'd like it to be.
Im sure as these fish become older and start exhibiting mature colours and even breeding dress, the differences will become more clear. Obviously id expect a Freddy to go bright Yellow when spawning.
From what I've seen the striping on Freddys near the dorsal is in a "Y" shape, where as Motags have more of a "zig-zag" pattern. In male freddys the lateral stripes are much more noticable and the "Y" striping is a kind of silver/purple sheen colouration. Motags have much more of a "trailing" fin, like, ummm.... Shoot... You know when its all long and dangly at the end hahaha, sh*t I cant remember the right wording haha.. Vertical stripes are much more prominent in male and female freddys, unless a female motag in in a breeding dress. But for the most part they are more prominent. Motags have a much more slender/sleek body shape than freddys when adult from what I've seen. Freddys are usually fairly stout and more suited for a "lake" environment where the water is not as fast moving... I could be wrong.. The anal fin "spot" on Motags is actually a spot but on freddys is kind of a number 8.... Of course this can all vary from fish to fish, and is most noticeable in adult fish...
