Now is this a syn?

[decoy50]

Grow it out & post pics, so we can see how it turns out. Whether its 100% syn or a hybrid, it has potential to be a good looking fish. Vieja juvies can be hard to distinguish from one another when pure, their tendency to hybridize only complicates matters. Good luck!

 

[Aquamojo]

Clearly I'm just missing "the DNA vision" that the animal guy has to be able to conclusively identify pictures of "pure" specimens of Paratheraps from hybrids or other similar species

While not 100%, provenance (i.e. a record of the source of fish) can provide a lot more certainty than the "that looks like a syn" BS on most of these threads.

Matt

I agree with you Matt. There's not enough there to identify as Melanurus...at least not that one photo. That dark coloration across and underneath the dorsal fin is suspect. If anything, you could make a case for bifasciatus (two bars).

Here's 230 photos of Melanurus at all sizes if that helps. Good luck with the fish...no matter what it is.