Okay...sorry I know this is a horrible picture, its from my phone, my camera is on the fritz. This guy was a trade in at a LFS, they had no idea what he was. I bought him like six months ago. I'm not sure if he's a lap or a bichir bichir.
hard to tell from here. def not a bichir bichir as those are very very rare and command a very high price, and i'm doubting the guy would have one. if u think it looks like a lap i'd go with lap then.
yeah I figure I'm not lucky enough to have scored a bichir bichir for 20 bucks . Buttttt....this guy is totally patternless, all the lap photos I've seen have some sort of pattern. Anyhow...I'll get a clear pic up some time soon.
i agree its a lapradei. as mentioned stress can cause the patterns to fade. the pattern/intensity also change with age and environment. And some just have faded patterns and/or dark base color lowering the contrast.
here's one of mine. its always been like this for years. and its been on bare bottom tank (at the store) to substrate colors from natural to now tan. maybe its pattern would show if it were on red substrate, or maybe its just the way it is.