Red terror and Mayan juveniles- Differences

[jmerchant]

I thought this might be helpful so some, myself included. Red Terrors seem to be really popular among keepers for a lot of different reasons, and when we see them offered in a store, we take the chance and bring them home, only to later be disappointed because they turn out to be Mayans (a great fish, but not as great if you had your heart set on something else ).

The confusion lies, I think, when the fish are still juveniles, in the 1-3 inch range, since that is the size of most fish offered in a store. I don’t think it is that hard to tell the difference between the two once they start putting on the weight. I know we have a lot of keepers of both fish, so I was hoping some of you could post young pictures (1-3’) of both and tell what to look for and what they should be trying to avoid. It is one thing to say what to look for, it is more helpful to show it, the more pictures the better!

Sorry if something like this is already out there, googleing images is not the best option because of how many are mislabeled.
Hope this helps someone. It will help me next time I take the plunge...

 

[jonclark96]

The spot in front of the tail is a good indicator. If the spot is above the centerline of the fish it is festae. If the spot is on the centerline of the fish it is uropthalmus.


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[Calihawk]

To me I think its visually obviously (I raised both for awhile). I even seen Mayans labeled as True Red Terror, but its never any use telling the LFS that.

Here are my pics of Mayans and Festaes hanging out together. You can see who's who. These are all 1.5" give or take.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c160/Calihawk/DSC04211.jpg[/IMG

Here are the differences at about 2" plus
[IMG]http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c160/Calihawk/DSC05689.jpg

 

[luvinbluegills]

The spot in front of the tail is a good indicator. If the spot is above the centerline of the fish it is festae. If the spot is on the centerline of the fish it is uropthalmus.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Agreed. That's the clearest way if you can't see both species together (Like in Calihawk's pics) or aren't intimately familiar with both. although even then it remains a good tell.

 

[jmerchant]

To me I think its visually obviously (I raised both for awhile). I even seen Mayans labeled as True Red Terror, but its never any use telling the LFS that.

Here are my pics of Mayans and Festaes hanging out together. You can see who's who. These are all 1.5" give or take.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c160/Calihawk/DSC04211.jpg[/IMG

Here are the differences at about 2" plus
[IMG]http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c160/Calihawk/DSC05689.jpg

From the first group of pictures of the two together, are the mayans the ones with the more pronounced strips and the almost glowing spot on the tail?

 

[Calihawk]

yes, festaes dont really blacken up til 4" or so

 

[woofy]

Im actually growing out 2" of both in the same tank and ill be honest before actually owning a festae i had a hard time telling but once i see them togther everyday its obvious. the mayan imo is taller bodied while the festae is longer and slendered body. the lines on a mayan are obvious and sharper from what i see the dot is also a big factor as other have mentioned. the dot on my festae is a bit smaller and higher up on thbe tail not centered. my mayans spot is centered and larger. my mayans have lots of color even at a small size while my 2" festae only has faint red fins just coming in. ive also seen atleast in my festae they have at a small size another small spots mid body.