Is this a red terror?

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Hey SharptoothBass

What I see is someone being educated about what Red Terrors are and are not and the difference between the ones that are called RT. Several people commend him on having a nice fish even though it isn't the more sought after one and others seek to distinguish between the 2 and you call it crap.
The only crap I see is you calling the 2 fish basically same. If Mayans were in DC before Festae then DC was way behind the 8ball hobbywise. Festae have been in circulation since the 70's. Myans started becoming popular in the mid-late 80's and into the 90's. And back then neither was called RT.
I agree with you that the title RT was created for shock value. But it didn't start with Mayans. In the 70's there was only fish called Terror, A. Rivulatus, due to it's bad atttiude and penchant for wreaking havoc in a closed environment which was somewhat foreign to US hobbyist back then and since Festae inhabited the same rivers as GT's and displayed the same beligerance it was just a matter of time before someone would get the idea to collect and export them together as GT and RT since the title terror appealed to American enthusiasts.
I have raised and bred them both as well, and beyond the similarity in base color and aggression they are certainly not the same. Mature mayans(male/female) look almost identical. Festae do not unless in fry-raising dress.
 
they used to call them false red terrors or mexican tail spots, uropthalmus are from different waters than festae . that one looks female to me ,check out my old pair the female looks like yours .it doesnt matter if its not festae bro its still nice ,goodluck bro ...the female is in the back...

mexican tail spots 001.jpg
 
ralph3545g;4624735; said:
they used to call them false red terrors or mexican tail spots, uropthalmus are from different waters than festae . that one looks female to me ,check out my old pair the female looks like yours .it doesnt matter if its not festae bro its still nice ,goodluck bro ...the female is in the back...

Good call Ralph3545g. Mexican Tail Spot was the 1st common name given to Mayans. The F0 specimens introduced in the 80's from Central America which were occasionally found in marinelike lagoons were very beautiful. Just don't see them colored like that anymore for obvious reasons. What a shame.:irked:
 
Sab_Fan;4609857; said:
if you Google "false red terror", you'll get hits for Mayan cichlids ... since they are similar fish, mistakes happen ...

and since Mayan colors are not as bright and bold as those of a festae -- the "washed out" comment rings true -- most people would rather have the festae ...

My anger with it all is, when we went into this reputable LFS a friend of mine asked if they had Festae and we were led to these fish and sold these fish as Festae (mind you, these guys are long time hobbyists and have had Festae in the past so they KNOW what they are). I wouldn't have bought them otherwise and I truly believe they knew that and that's why they said they were festae. I personally think Mayan's are ugly. Though the ones personality is growing on me. So I may keep it for that reason. But most likely, as soon as they're a few inches in size I'll ditch them.
 
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