Red Tiger Motaguense - Really Red?

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Cichlidholic

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 23, 2009
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Bay Area, CA
Hello all,

I heard from a LFS that Red Tiger Motaguense are not really red, but yellow with orange tendencies. I was told that motaguense that are red are either specially (in)bred (from Asia) or pumped with hormones to temporarily make them red. How true is this and is this guy full of it?

I've seen very few live RTM, and many yellow motaguense (although the internet seems to have many pics or red ones). Today I was at another LFS and found this guy/gal:



Picture does not do him/her justice, but he/she is pretty darned red at about 3". This is a boy yes?

Thanks for your inputs!

DSC02791.JPG
 
True RTM's have plenty of red on them, so your guy is, as you say, full of it!

RTM's are a distinct race of motaguense. You can find nice shots of them on Aquamojo's site (and probably here if you search his posts). Mo collected his fish in the wild, so you can be sure they weren't bred in Asia or otherwise genetically engineered. I think you can get the very same race of fish from Jeff Rapps, Ken Davis, and/or Eddie Martin.

Regarding the sex of your fish, it looks like a female to me. There are no spots in the unpaired fins. Don't worry though, the females look as good or better than the males in this species!
 
Thanks,

From what I have read, I believed a true Red Tiger Mota existed, but good to hear this info.

Any other guesses about the sex of this fish? I realize the pic is not the best (not sure how Mojo or you other guys do it, must be fancy camera equipment and lighting), but it does have a fair bit of "spangles" (is that the right term?) leading me to think it is a boy, but not sure. I do agree, it does not too many spots on the unpaired fins so it may be a girl.

Thanks again.
 
I think when they are younger...males in particular, there is much more yellow read. As they get bigger it turns into more red spangling. females are an entirely different story. They are definitely yellow orange and more red when in breeding dress.

Here's an adult F0 female @ 9"

Moto-504.jpg


Moto-501.jpg


Juvenile F0 male at 4":

Moto%20215b.jpg


F0 male at 13"

Moto-505.jpg


Pair:

Moto-335b.jpg
 
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Years ago I saw a wild caught breeding pair in a shop. They were sold or I would have bitten their hand off. They were about 5-6" and guarding fry, and both fish were brilliant red - I mean brilliant red, like Jewel Cichlids (with the usual black bits).

Please believe me, they were wild caught, brilliant red all over, and definitely motas.
It was a long time ago but I remember them like it was yesterday.
 
This is what my two females look like all the time.

fish3-13-09 021.jpg
 
Here are a couple of more pics. From the response and from Mojo's description, I think you guys are right, I have a female RTM. Here a also a couple of pics of what seems be a male RTM (about 1/2 the size of the female). Hopefully I can get some fry from these guys in the future.

Actually, the most exciting thing about fish keeping raising small fish and watching them mature, change colors and become the fish you see on these forums.

And thanks again for the responses and pics! As usual, nice photos Mojo (been lurking the forums for a few months, just joined recently).

Cheers!
 
By the way your fish looked just like my male when I got him.
He'll fill in and looks like he already shows some deep red.


Edit.
I think I'm wrong on the sex. The slight blotching threw me off.
 
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