ID my parachromis

[Achilles1763]

Hello, I have posted these in the cichlid forum and had a contradictory answer to what I was sold them as. I bought 3 labelled as 'false yellow jacket parachromis motagenses', I asked the guy in the shop if they were their red tiger motagenses and he said no they are a different sub species as on the label. However having posted these I have been told that they are in fact RTM (which made me very happy!)... since then the biggest of the 4 has coloured up very nicely and I was just wondering if anyone has any more insight? Thanks as always.

 

[PYRU]

Mota. There's no sub species so to speak. They're usually done by catch location. The typical rtm's are Rio Blanco.

 

[Achilles1763]

Okay so it's just a regional variation, so as I have no idea of the collection location it's just best guess and wait and hope for a RTM! Thanks

 

[duanes]

Looks to me like a female motaguense.
Males have small spots on the gill plate and throat, females don't.
male

female

 

[PYRU]

Okay so it's just a regional variation, so as I have no idea of the collection location it's just best guess and wait and hope for a RTM! Thanks

There's no doubt its a female red tiger. The original motas were gold and a different location.

It's the same as yellow vs blue dovii, Honduran blue jags vs reg nics, red vs green istlanum, etc etc

 

[Achilles1763]

Thanks gents, you have improved my day vastly! I am still very much a newbie when it come to wild caught fish and their diversification. I have a further 2 of these but they haven't developed the colours/markings like the big one above so will be a while before I can have a go at ID'ing. But thanks again I have wanted a RTM ever since I saw them many years ago!

 

[RealCrix220]

Definitely a red tiger