Mota vs. Managuense juvies -- differentiate?

[jsetme31]

Hi all,

In the tank with the managuense at the LFS are some similiar fishes, but I'm not sure they are jags as well.

I didn't think to take a picture, but I'm getting a little itch that they might be motas.

So, my beat the band question...At not quite two inches, is there a surefire way to diff the species? Another LFS has one very young one (1.25 inches) that they are calling a haitian, but I'm getting another itch.

I bought a pair of what turned out to be cubans about three weeks ago, and they are doing quite nicely in my 55 growout tank.

Thanks!

 

[Crazy mike]

Baby jags in all honesty are the easiest to tell from the other parachromis. Only way to say for sure is with a pic


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[jsetme31]

Problem is, the one that are throwing me off aren't as dark as the baby jags that come through, and it makes the reddish tint in their eyes more pronounced. But the same sort of pattern along the lateral line as jags. But they're more tan, as dumb as it sounds. I realize that it's not much to go on. I just didn't know if there was any sort of "of course that's a mota" characteristic that would show up in a two-inch fish!

I'd do the work to house a mota if one showed up at the LFS, but not the jag. No offense meant to jags.

 

[Jc1119]

Parachromis are not easy to id at 2". Especially since they are also most likely showing stress coloration as well. Pics would be a start.

 

[duanes]

here's a young motaguense for comparison.

within a group of the same species, there may be some with light color and some dark. When I had spawning managuense, there would be any number of light and dark individuals from the same spawn, and these differences could change from day to day.