geophagus identification please

[lukenewton]

hey guys I have just got hold of 10 geophagus at my lfs, they arrived today and from the supplier they were labelled as geophagius surinamensis. I know this species is very rare in the hobby and other species are just labelled as them, i will upload a couple of videos I got from a mate who works at the lfs and if possible can anyone identify them? they are not the best videos and I will try to get more and some pics when I see the fish in person.
Thanks
Luke

 

[JK47]

Too small to accurately ID. Based upon the missing midlateral spot (could just be the stress of being in a bag) I would guess they are a G. altifrons variant.

 

[Adhlc]

I didn't think Surinamensis were very rare at all, but maybe they are where you're located.

As far as an ID - pretty much exactly what JK47 said.

 

[ryansmith83]

I didn't think Surinamensis were very rare at all, but maybe they are where you're located.

As far as an ID - pretty much exactly what JK47 said.

True surinamensis are basically non-existent in the US market. "Surinamensis" has been used for a long time as a catch-all name for all Geophagus of the surinamensis complex. This goes back to a time when the species hadn't been split and they were all considered the same fish. You see the same thing with Mesonauta (they're all called festivus) and a few other species. Wholesalers use these generic names and LFS/dealers just pass that info along.

Since Kullander (1986) and Kullander and Nijssen (1989), most populations of Geophagus referred to as G. surinamensis (Bloch) (Gosse 1975) have been recognized as different taxa. The Geophagus surinamensis “complex” includes 7 described species (G. surinamensis, G. brokopondo, G. brachybranchus, G. camopiensis, G. proximus, G. megasema, and G. altifrons) and an undetermined number of undescribed species with deep bodies and heads, a mid-flank spot of variable size, and either with infraorbital stripe absent (e.g. G. surinamensis) or limited to a preopercular black mark (e.g. G. brachybranchus).

Geophagus species outside the G. surinamensis complex have a complete infraorbital stripe, including G. grammepareius, G. taeniopareius, G. argyrostictus, G. harreri, and probably several undescribed species known to the aquarium trade (Weidner 2000).

Source

Oliver Lucanus recently imported what is supposedly true surinamensis so it wouldn't surprise me to start seeing them pop up here and there, but at least in the US it's unlikely.

 

[Adhlc]

True surinamensis are basically non-existent in the US market. "Surinamensis" has been used for a long time as a catch-all name for all Geophagus of the surinamensis complex. This goes back to a time when the species hadn't been split and they were all considered the same fish. You see the same thing with Mesonauta (they're all called festivus) and a few other species. Wholesalers use these generic names and LFS/dealers just pass that info along.



Source

Oliver Lucanus recently imported what is supposedly true surinamensis so it wouldn't surprise me to start seeing them pop up here and there, but at least in the US it's unlikely.

Interesting! Thanks for the info.

I worked at a few fish stores and remember ordering these so called "Surinamensis" pretty frequently. They were always small, much like the ones OP posted - so I never really thoiggt much of it.

 

[lukenewton]

got a slightly better video today and also the fish are now settled in so should show there patterns better. are people still reckoning altifrons?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

It's still hard to tell but my best guess would be Abalios.
Post some pictures.It will be easier from stills rather than a video.

 

[lukenewton]

in there new tank now and settled, got some pics now.

 

[lukenewton]

Can anyone else offer any Insight? Or do I need to wait until they grow abit?

 

[JK47]

It's still hard to tell but my best guess would be Abalios.
Post some pictures.It will be easier from stills rather than a video.

I'm going to have to agree with this. The midlateral spot is showing in the new pics. To answer the OP's question though he needs to give it a bit more time to grow out.