Hello,
I've read all the threads on Sumatra vs Borneo in the past & really come away with nothing other than wild adult Datnoid photo comparisons which aren't really beneficial when trying to determine if what I am trying to purchase within the UK Fish Shops at 3-5" is actually Sumatra or Borneo. I've been on the hunt for almost 12months, I keep many different datnoids I'll list; 5NTT, 3AT, 1NGT, 15IT & still not yet to own a Pulcher (the dream!!)
I've been attempting to get my hands on many different Datnoids, specifically Indonesian variants such as Sumatra, Vietnam, Kalimantan & Mekong variants but all I own are what I believe to be Borneos however I've always hit a brick wall when it comes to being offered Sumatra. Vietnam, Kalimantan & Mekong don't bother me yet because I haven't seen them actually hit the UK market, but I am seeing influxes of "Sumatra" hit our market lately, of which I believe many, if not all are fake. I'm very connected with hobbyists & retailers up & down the UK & I see all these arriving, often when I try query them on their choice of labelling the fish as Sumatra I'm just told "They are Sumatra, that's what the list had them listed as" but as I have come to learn many lists contain fakes just to get a little more money out of the retailers & in-turn customers.
So, what are the differences I am too look for? I have a list of differences I've compiled from previous documentation of differences & reading threads, but maybe there are more that actually are proven or work across the board with any size datnoid...
Base Colour
Sumatra - Yellow/ Whitish/ Golden with obvious contrasting dark stripes.
Borneo - Browny/ Bronze base colour on the upper half of the datnoid side.
Stableness
Sumatra - Often always stable.
Borneo - Very unstable.
Spoonhead
Sumatra - Occasional spoon head shape similar to D. Polta sometimes seen in Kalimantan specimens I have come across online.
Borneo - No spoon head on any specimen I've ever seen.
Price Tag (not really applicable)
Sumatra - £75-100+ (of specimens 2-4".)
Borneo - £20-80 (of specimens 2-4".)
Bodyshape
Sumatra - Alongside spoon head (potentially) taller more slender appearance,
Borneo - The normal datnoid shape we all know & love.
Bars
Sumatra - 4 bar, thick at top, thinner at bottom. (unsure if should connect on all 4)
Borneo - 3-4 bar, unique bar, mixed bar, etc (a lot of difference) (seen 1x 5bar specimen, unsymmetrical, not top to bottom but 5 bar markings at the top of the back)
I'd love for someone with more experience to come along and possibly point me in the right direction. I have the video of the latest "Sumatra" I'm being offered alongside likely being able to dig up some previous examples of "Sumatras."
Thank you.
*me &
Vancouver_98683
have discussed this extensively in the past be we don't really have a reliable "checklist" for making sure a Datnoid is Sumatra although we have dismissed many specimens in the past that I have been offered.
I've read all the threads on Sumatra vs Borneo in the past & really come away with nothing other than wild adult Datnoid photo comparisons which aren't really beneficial when trying to determine if what I am trying to purchase within the UK Fish Shops at 3-5" is actually Sumatra or Borneo. I've been on the hunt for almost 12months, I keep many different datnoids I'll list; 5NTT, 3AT, 1NGT, 15IT & still not yet to own a Pulcher (the dream!!)
I've been attempting to get my hands on many different Datnoids, specifically Indonesian variants such as Sumatra, Vietnam, Kalimantan & Mekong variants but all I own are what I believe to be Borneos however I've always hit a brick wall when it comes to being offered Sumatra. Vietnam, Kalimantan & Mekong don't bother me yet because I haven't seen them actually hit the UK market, but I am seeing influxes of "Sumatra" hit our market lately, of which I believe many, if not all are fake. I'm very connected with hobbyists & retailers up & down the UK & I see all these arriving, often when I try query them on their choice of labelling the fish as Sumatra I'm just told "They are Sumatra, that's what the list had them listed as" but as I have come to learn many lists contain fakes just to get a little more money out of the retailers & in-turn customers.
So, what are the differences I am too look for? I have a list of differences I've compiled from previous documentation of differences & reading threads, but maybe there are more that actually are proven or work across the board with any size datnoid...
Base Colour
Sumatra - Yellow/ Whitish/ Golden with obvious contrasting dark stripes.
Borneo - Browny/ Bronze base colour on the upper half of the datnoid side.
Stableness
Sumatra - Often always stable.
Borneo - Very unstable.
Spoonhead
Sumatra - Occasional spoon head shape similar to D. Polta sometimes seen in Kalimantan specimens I have come across online.
Borneo - No spoon head on any specimen I've ever seen.
Price Tag (not really applicable)
Sumatra - £75-100+ (of specimens 2-4".)
Borneo - £20-80 (of specimens 2-4".)
Bodyshape
Sumatra - Alongside spoon head (potentially) taller more slender appearance,
Borneo - The normal datnoid shape we all know & love.
Bars
Sumatra - 4 bar, thick at top, thinner at bottom. (unsure if should connect on all 4)
Borneo - 3-4 bar, unique bar, mixed bar, etc (a lot of difference) (seen 1x 5bar specimen, unsymmetrical, not top to bottom but 5 bar markings at the top of the back)
I'd love for someone with more experience to come along and possibly point me in the right direction. I have the video of the latest "Sumatra" I'm being offered alongside likely being able to dig up some previous examples of "Sumatras."
Thank you.
*me &
Vancouver_98683
have discussed this extensively in the past be we don't really have a reliable "checklist" for making sure a Datnoid is Sumatra although we have dismissed many specimens in the past that I have been offered.
