Red Tiger Motaguense?

[DREWSMITH]

I have tried 12"+ RTM in 200+ gallon setups. No luck. As of yet... I am growing some out as we speak. Hoping to spawn them here is a pic of a11'' rio Copan I got from a member on here. I can't find any pics of my 12''male at the moment.

Drew

NO GOOD DEED SHALL GO UNPUNISHED!

 

[Reaper13]

I've seen them work in big gallon setups, but I've also seen a 8" male rtm back down a 11 female jag. A pair will destroy anything that can't back them down. They grow slow like .5" per month so you have some time. I think the best route is to set aside a 125 to themselves with a divider or try a female in a community setting. Males generally have a nasty temper & will drop someone in a hurry.

Viejas & amphilophus are about the best shots at tank mates for parachromis imho.

 

[Reaper13]

...a side note I'd get them from a reputable breeder with quality stock. Those beautiful colors you see in 90% of the rtm pictures aren't specimens from your local pet store.

 

[Calihawk]

I'm thinking seriously about a RTM. I'd like to get one with the blue tint, like the photos of aquamojo's RTM. Is that a certain strain of RTM, or did he just get lucky with that one? Is that age? Or is that blue shading in all the adult RTM's and he has a high enough quality camera to capture it in a photo?

Sup David, looks like nobody's really touched on the color part of your questions. As far as color goes, its a bit of everything: age, water condition, health, lighting, and yes, a good camera would help too. Mo has a tutorial video on how to get the most out of lighting up your fish tank. I like to take pics of my fishes too and over the years have found that lighting (directions and diff. angles) is the most important thing. All of a sudden you will see new colors pop out everywhere.

Strains and locale are irrelevant IMO unless there is a significant noticeable difference. Apparently some of the people that personally imported RTM said that the 2 strains (Rio Copan & Rio Blanco) are from the same waters, thus they are the same strain. A note was also made that the RTM in the entire US were probably imported by them. Apparently there are some orange/yellow strains too. I guess if we stare long enough we can come up with all kinds of differences btw a same batch of fishes, lol. Hope this helps you with the strain part of your questions...and for me that subject ends here. Lol, I just laugh, shake my head, and throw my hands up in the air.

Good Luck

 

[fobrinkle]

I had 2 females before. They were great fish to keep but they were crazy aggressive. Great reds on them too. They were two of my best fish ever.

 

[DREWSMITH]

I believe the Rio Blanco is a tributary to the Rio Copan. Or vice versa. Which is what some experts say is the only source for red tigers. I an not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But I will say this. There are only a few people who distribute wc fish to venders and wholesalers. But that doesn't mean that some hobbyist couldn't have collected fish themselves at a different location and brought them home. How ever unlikely that may sound it is possible though. I personally have had Rapps Rio Copan and COA Rio Blanco as well as Rio Blanco from UK. Each have had different characteristics that make then unique in my opinion. Rio Copan were more red. Blanco brighter orange with district barring. The Rio Blanco from UmbeeKing are more yellow . At least this has been my experience with them. They all have blue to them in their fins when viewed in the right light.

Drew