Thanks for adding the pics Chix, I remember West VATF, its what inspired me to get mine. But man they are different. The TATF looks much more like mine, except mine has lots of red in the anal, pelvic and pectoral fins.
ShadowStryder's Hydrocynus vittatus (VATF) growout thread
- Thread starter ShadowStryder
- Start date
Thanks for that post - it was really good to read through - i've seen photos of that huge GATF before, you can clearly see it's considerably larger than 27" there.
SS,
TATF and VATF are very closely related. So closely related in fact that Hydrocynus tanzaniae is directly evolved from the vittatus genetic group of four distinct genetic lineages. Its not entirely incorrect to consider H. tanzaniae to be the fifth vittatus complex member or a daughter lineage to the vittatus complex.
As you'd expect, there is an awful lot of overlap between the two species in looks and they can be incredibly difficult to differentiate from one another. The best way to tell the two apart is from lateral line scale counts, but even with that it is possible to confuse the two; vittatus has 45-50 and tanzaniae has 43-47.
Traits that I have noticed that TATF consistently has are a blue adipose fin, white tipped ventral fins, a diminished second stripe above the lateral line and a generally thicker build than most vittatus. Oddly enough however, vittatus can often display some of these traits as well.
I strongly suspect that since I came out with the tanzaniae evidence in October '12 to January '13 that a lot of vittatus have been sold as H. tanzaniae based on similarities that aren't entirely solid based on enthusiasm and market demand.
I'm considering broaching this subject again for discussion.
Read more about all of this in an older post I wrote below:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...can-Tiger-fish-and-the-mythical-Black-Goliath
TATF and VATF are very closely related. So closely related in fact that Hydrocynus tanzaniae is directly evolved from the vittatus genetic group of four distinct genetic lineages. Its not entirely incorrect to consider H. tanzaniae to be the fifth vittatus complex member or a daughter lineage to the vittatus complex.
As you'd expect, there is an awful lot of overlap between the two species in looks and they can be incredibly difficult to differentiate from one another. The best way to tell the two apart is from lateral line scale counts, but even with that it is possible to confuse the two; vittatus has 45-50 and tanzaniae has 43-47.
Traits that I have noticed that TATF consistently has are a blue adipose fin, white tipped ventral fins, a diminished second stripe above the lateral line and a generally thicker build than most vittatus. Oddly enough however, vittatus can often display some of these traits as well.
I strongly suspect that since I came out with the tanzaniae evidence in October '12 to January '13 that a lot of vittatus have been sold as H. tanzaniae based on similarities that aren't entirely solid based on enthusiasm and market demand.
I'm considering broaching this subject again for discussion.
Read more about all of this in an older post I wrote below:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...can-Tiger-fish-and-the-mythical-Black-Goliath
Thanks for the read Chix. I do know mine is definitely from the Congo but what region I am unable to verify.
Is there any way to differentiate male or female visually? Or are they monomorphic?
Is there any way to differentiate male or female visually? Or are they monomorphic?
Only upper Zambezi vittatus are sexually dimorphic. The rest are monomorphic.
That was a great read Chicxulub - i browsed through it this morning and found it very interesting, even at 7am!
It seems so difficult to spot the difference between the types, even where you clearly displayed a picture labelling them up i still found myself struggling to pinpoint the difference.
It makes it especially hard where one type evolves into another and so the differences are small, as you highlighed with the VATF.
It seems so difficult to spot the difference between the types, even where you clearly displayed a picture labelling them up i still found myself struggling to pinpoint the difference.
It makes it especially hard where one type evolves into another and so the differences are small, as you highlighed with the VATF.
man the Tiger Fish is awesome but it was so hard to pay attention to him with all your rays. They are super sick!
