Help? P. Palmas or P. Buettikoferi

[Kaiden]

I was hoping someone with more knowledge on polys can help me identify what mine is. I always thought it was a P. Palmas but I was just told that it's actually a P. Buettikoferi. I was looking to purchase a P. Buettikoferi to go with my Palmas but maybe I should get a P. Palmas instead if mine is Buettikoferi

What's the best way to tell the difference between the two?

 

[kno4te]

I'd say palmas

 

[kno4te]

The striping gets me sometimes.

 

[kno4te]

DrB will correctly id it.

 

[Dr.B]

Palmas palmas. Palmas palmas usually have thicker more distinguishable stripes than buettikoferi. But there are some thin stripped palmas palmas, and thicker stripped buettikoferi. Palmas palmas also have more of a camp type look to them. Takes practice to tell.

 

[Kaiden]

Thank you! Appreciate the help.

I was told before that darker substrate brings out their color/markings better. I have a light colored substrate right now but I'm planning to change it to black sand when I go on vacation 2 weeks from now.

 

[DMD123]

Dr.B and I just talked about this, lol. His Beuttikoferi have a lot of patterning and look more like a p. palmas I have. My Beuttikoferi really does not have dark bars at all.
This is mine:

Beuttikoferi sitting on top of palmas palmas

This is my palmas palmas

Not the best of pics since they just came in and were in the QT/growout tank but you get an idea.

 

[DMD123]

I had forgot about this from another forum:
http://www.predatoryfishkeepers.com...lmas-buettikoferi-vs-Polypterus-palmas-palmas

A lot of detailed info there.

 

[Dr.B]

Yeah the darker the substrate the better/darker they'll look

 

[Kaiden]

Thanks guys!

I just received a new addition yesterday. I ordered a P. Buettikoferi from WetSpot Tropicals but...it looks a lot like a P. Palmas. Maybe I'm wrong but can someone please confirm what type it is for me?

Thanks in advanced!