I've often spent more than 5 hours a day for the past 2 1/2 years, monitoring different Payara and recording their behavior for my own purposes as well as trying to study the characteristics between genus's. I believe I may have discovered yet another variance between Hydrolycus Genus Armatus and Tatauaia but I'll get to that after some of my research.
After long study Ive documented that of these two Hydrolycus genus, none have the same attitude/habits/chain of command or share any pack mentality with their cousins whatsoever. They may pack together in a single shoal but the chain of command is completely flawed in the Armatus since they are usually a apex predator whom will have his own territory. As juvenile they will adapt to pack mentality to obtain security but as they grow older they will eventually dominate and drive all others out of their area. This has also been shown in the cousin case of Piranha packing with Pacu. It is as if they know they are similar but completely different all in the same. When the alpha is challenged its very interesting to watch as they dart around after each other ramming and nipping their sides until a victor succeeds and a loser retreats to the back of the line. In my pack the two larger tats seem to always fight for supremacy as the runt sits back and enjoys the show, though sometimes getting to close to the action and receiving a tag as well. Yet when the Armatus comes into the pack they try to dominate him with no success, He will either ignore them or ram them very hard with his snout pushing them out of his way.
When it comes to diet and command, The Tatauaia seem to stay to one area of the tank and the alpha of the pack always seems to eat first (I'd say 60% of the time). If another smaller tat eats out of line, the larger alpha will become enraged and chase him around, almost like wild dogs. Once the alpha has eaten the others are free to join in the frenzy. Whereas the Armatus will course the entire footprint of the tank almost shark-like scouting out prey to take down. He will often ram or bite at the tats if they get in the way of him and his target. Ive yet to see the Tatauaia take food directly from the Armatus but I would imagine it would end in severe retaliation.
Aggressiveness and behavior traits would be as one would expect. The Armatus is an extremely aggressive fish whom is in complete control of his surroundings. If he feels endangered he will snap his jaws to warn other predators or even attack if need be. Very curious he will often come and circle new tank mates to see how they respond or even possibly sizing them up for a late night snack. Armatus are very tough, very hardy fish. Besides pack command, the Tatauaia tend to be very peaceful in comparison to their cousin as they will often just float casually in one area of the tank and will often take aggression from other tank mates and ignore it or swim away. From my research I've found none of these genus to be malicious -meaning they will only kill for food and not aggravate other tank mates for no reason, unlike some of the specimen in my other tanks. (ex. Alligator Gar - Will kill for fun)
NOTE: Though not malicious, these fish are still voracious predators and should not be placed with fish smaller than 3/4 of their total body length.
Now to the point, After looking at these fish for so long I've noticed a very distinctive difference that I'm surprised nobody else has.
If you look at an Armatus - Tatauaia ID guide, most will tell you look at the adipose and the gill spot. As I do agree these are the easiest way to tell them apart.
But in certain circumstances where it is incredibly difficult to tell, (ex. When I had some very rare yellowtail payara whom looked like a Armatus/Tat hybrid)
Nobody could ID except Vamptrev who had seen the rare yellowtail varience before. I believe i have found an easier way to ID Tat from Armatus when coloration or gill plate is to difficult to tell.
Ive noticed distinct differences in the main fins located directly under the gillplate. Included in this post is a few pictures below which will show the difference between Armatus and Tatauaia.
The Tatauaia and scomberoides both have a acute upturned angle directly stemming from the body, While the Armatus all have a obtuse angle stemming downward or flat from the body.
In addition to these pictures I'll post some of my own payara to show different angles.
Let me know what you guys think.
View attachment 905607
After long study Ive documented that of these two Hydrolycus genus, none have the same attitude/habits/chain of command or share any pack mentality with their cousins whatsoever. They may pack together in a single shoal but the chain of command is completely flawed in the Armatus since they are usually a apex predator whom will have his own territory. As juvenile they will adapt to pack mentality to obtain security but as they grow older they will eventually dominate and drive all others out of their area. This has also been shown in the cousin case of Piranha packing with Pacu. It is as if they know they are similar but completely different all in the same. When the alpha is challenged its very interesting to watch as they dart around after each other ramming and nipping their sides until a victor succeeds and a loser retreats to the back of the line. In my pack the two larger tats seem to always fight for supremacy as the runt sits back and enjoys the show, though sometimes getting to close to the action and receiving a tag as well. Yet when the Armatus comes into the pack they try to dominate him with no success, He will either ignore them or ram them very hard with his snout pushing them out of his way.
When it comes to diet and command, The Tatauaia seem to stay to one area of the tank and the alpha of the pack always seems to eat first (I'd say 60% of the time). If another smaller tat eats out of line, the larger alpha will become enraged and chase him around, almost like wild dogs. Once the alpha has eaten the others are free to join in the frenzy. Whereas the Armatus will course the entire footprint of the tank almost shark-like scouting out prey to take down. He will often ram or bite at the tats if they get in the way of him and his target. Ive yet to see the Tatauaia take food directly from the Armatus but I would imagine it would end in severe retaliation.
Aggressiveness and behavior traits would be as one would expect. The Armatus is an extremely aggressive fish whom is in complete control of his surroundings. If he feels endangered he will snap his jaws to warn other predators or even attack if need be. Very curious he will often come and circle new tank mates to see how they respond or even possibly sizing them up for a late night snack. Armatus are very tough, very hardy fish. Besides pack command, the Tatauaia tend to be very peaceful in comparison to their cousin as they will often just float casually in one area of the tank and will often take aggression from other tank mates and ignore it or swim away. From my research I've found none of these genus to be malicious -meaning they will only kill for food and not aggravate other tank mates for no reason, unlike some of the specimen in my other tanks. (ex. Alligator Gar - Will kill for fun)
NOTE: Though not malicious, these fish are still voracious predators and should not be placed with fish smaller than 3/4 of their total body length.
Now to the point, After looking at these fish for so long I've noticed a very distinctive difference that I'm surprised nobody else has.
If you look at an Armatus - Tatauaia ID guide, most will tell you look at the adipose and the gill spot. As I do agree these are the easiest way to tell them apart.
But in certain circumstances where it is incredibly difficult to tell, (ex. When I had some very rare yellowtail payara whom looked like a Armatus/Tat hybrid)
Nobody could ID except Vamptrev who had seen the rare yellowtail varience before. I believe i have found an easier way to ID Tat from Armatus when coloration or gill plate is to difficult to tell.
Ive noticed distinct differences in the main fins located directly under the gillplate. Included in this post is a few pictures below which will show the difference between Armatus and Tatauaia.
The Tatauaia and scomberoides both have a acute upturned angle directly stemming from the body, While the Armatus all have a obtuse angle stemming downward or flat from the body.
In addition to these pictures I'll post some of my own payara to show different angles.
Let me know what you guys think.
View attachment 905607
