I have come to the conclusion that when Reticulata are VERY new born (weeks maybe months), they have a very distinct grid-lock soccer ball type pattern that they eventually grow out of.. very similar to how P14s are born a brown pup which very much looks like Scobina, and over time develops into a black ray.
I think that this pattern will change over time with maturity, but the rays disc will fail to grow due to lack of nutrition and/or stress.
I have 5 very tiny juvenile retics right now, 3 of them have a reticulated pattern while 2 of them show this juvenile pattern.
1 Reticulata from my first batch of 3 also displayed this pattern, but it broke up within a month or so and became a normal reticulated pattern.
I've observed that some of the body features (such as eyes, spiracles, etc) are larger one the retics with the developed pattern, but the overall disc size is not indicative of amount of time since birth. In other words, the rays have the same disc size but they are different ages and you can tell due to the development of the juvenile pattern and the seemingly larger overall body structure. This could also be a sign of varying genetics and hybridization..
Perhaps the retics that are born with an already in-tact reticulated pattern contain the genetics of another ray, which could determine max size, growth rate, etc.. Perhaps the retics that are born with the soccer-ball type pattern contain the genetics of another ray..
Just thought this is an interesting note.. and if anyone sees these rays with "special" labeling as a different or rare species, keep in mind they are very young and hard to care for at that stage..
Heres some pix as examples of the juvenile stage.. first pic is my "new born" retic, and the last 3 pics are from a german breeder who birthed those pups from a pair of 6-7" retics..
Thoughts?
Discussion?
Thanks for looking.. going to make an interesting thread on 'disc rot' as well.. seems like a few of these guys have it.. a fungus? We will find out if salt and good water quality will fix it!
I think that this pattern will change over time with maturity, but the rays disc will fail to grow due to lack of nutrition and/or stress.
I have 5 very tiny juvenile retics right now, 3 of them have a reticulated pattern while 2 of them show this juvenile pattern.
1 Reticulata from my first batch of 3 also displayed this pattern, but it broke up within a month or so and became a normal reticulated pattern.
I've observed that some of the body features (such as eyes, spiracles, etc) are larger one the retics with the developed pattern, but the overall disc size is not indicative of amount of time since birth. In other words, the rays have the same disc size but they are different ages and you can tell due to the development of the juvenile pattern and the seemingly larger overall body structure. This could also be a sign of varying genetics and hybridization..
Perhaps the retics that are born with an already in-tact reticulated pattern contain the genetics of another ray, which could determine max size, growth rate, etc.. Perhaps the retics that are born with the soccer-ball type pattern contain the genetics of another ray..
Just thought this is an interesting note.. and if anyone sees these rays with "special" labeling as a different or rare species, keep in mind they are very young and hard to care for at that stage..
Heres some pix as examples of the juvenile stage.. first pic is my "new born" retic, and the last 3 pics are from a german breeder who birthed those pups from a pair of 6-7" retics..
Thoughts?
Discussion?
Thanks for looking.. going to make an interesting thread on 'disc rot' as well.. seems like a few of these guys have it.. a fungus? We will find out if salt and good water quality will fix it!
