Jumpin Junipers!

[Peanut_Power]

CURSE MY LUCK! I finally took some nice pictures and there are stupid water spots everywhere! I was tempted to go back and reshoot them after I cleaned, but my batteries are dead now. Double drat.

Finally an updated picture of my sp. 'xingu II' that actually is some what acceptable.

I believe there are two males and one female. Its quite interesting how the males still have their spots at such a large size, and the female has lost all hers. Its cool too because all the little spots merged into larger spots. I imagine they will eventually disappear completely, but I won't be upset if they don't.

Just a quick shot of the lents before they disappear under their log. He is bigger, but she still pushes him around. Its surprising actually how well all the pikes get along in this tank. The flare but there are no squabbles. Everyone has found their own area.

 

[busterbrown]

i can see them just fine and they look awesome. super cool colors on them

 

[Cichlidgeek]

Jer,
Are the fish in the top photo the mystery pikes from Snook?
Thanks,
--Brian

 

[Peanut_Power]

Aye Brian, indeed they were. Not entirely positive on the ID as them being sp. 'xingu II' either.

He has another 'mystery' pike that is was a variant of johanna. Unfortunately I gave those to my dad and he somehow managed to kill all five. Not happy.

 

[Gruff Master]

Gorgeous Pikes. I love the spots and patterns of the Lents.

 

[Cichlidgeek]

Aye Brian, indeed they were. Not entirely positive on the ID as them being sp. 'xingu II' either.

He has another 'mystery' pike that is was a variant of johanna. Unfortunately I gave those to my dad and he somehow managed to kill all five. Not happy.

Jer,
Oh, ok. Well sorry to hear about the other batch. What species have you narrowed them down into possibly belonging to??

Have you ever seen Crenicichla sp "Araguaia red tiger"? They have spotting on their faces just like your fish. Amazon-Exotic-Import.de has an "OK" photo of the Araguaia Red Tiger on their site, and some other images were sent to me by Daniel a couple years ago when I was looking to do an import, but the photos have since been deleted.
--Brian

 

[Cichlidgeek]

IDK........I cannot get away from AquaLog South American Cichlids I, Pg. 44, top photos for these. I realize the fish depicted on Pg. 46 (also top photos) look similar, but I have seen several dozen Xingu II and not one had a single spot on their face--unless the ones that I thought were Xingu II were something else. Hmmm.......

I mean everything from the face spotting to the shape of the snout to other basic morphometrics right down to the myomere striations are identical to the fish pictured on the top of Pg. 44. It all comes right down to the "real" collection point for these fish, as that will unlock their secret identity, but what the hell do I know!?!

 

[Hadrian]

those lents are amazing---you really need to keep them another couple years--love to see them at total full size

 

[peacock madness]

nice pikes, even with the spots on the tank the pics still came out nice.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Brian ~ I don't have an Aqualog, so enlighten me what they say. I've been meaning to get one for years now just never have. Perhaps its time to get on the band wagon eh? LoL I've only looked at one once, still have flash backs. Would that one on page 44 be sp. 'lugubris' ?

Hadrian ~ Thanks ya! I'll do my bestest to keep them as long as possible. Been waiting for some lents like this for a long time, not ready to let them go just yet.

peacock madness ~ Thanks!!! I'll try better next time to clean THEN take photos.

Gruff ~ Thanks sir! Appreciated!

Buster ~ Ha! Thanks ya!