Ugly ducklings!

[esoxlucius]

We're all familiar with the story of the ugly duckling which grew up not be an ugly duckling at all, but a beautiful graceful swan. No doubt we have a few similar fish examples in our hobby. Either fish that are blah when they are young but grow to be stunners, or, fish that are stunning when young but end up plain and boring.

There are plenty of cichlids that fall into this category but for me the one fish that sticks out more than any other is the Distochodus Sexfasciatus. Stunningly beautiful when young but morphs into possibly one of the blandest fish in the hobby. I had a chance a few years ago to get a couple of these guys at about 5". As much as I wanted them I passed on them, simply because i knew what they'd turn out like.

This fish must have the most dramatic downturn in misfortune than any other fish, unless you guys have some other examples.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Bumblebee grouper is a pretty good example. Compare the juvenile to the adult and you'll see.


Turns into

Giant grouper - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PhishMon84]

If we are looking at SW sweetlips and batfish get real ugly with age.
back to fresh
I'm sure some prefer baby O's to their adult colors
Tropheus Deboisi
Chinese high fin sharks
SAL's from cute to questionable

 

[jjohnwm]

If we are looking at SW sweetlips and batfish get real ugly with age.
back to fresh
I'm sure some prefer baby O's to their adult colors
Tropheus Deboisi
Chinese high fin sharks
SAL's from cute to questionable

Yeah, SA Lungfish lose all their attractive black colour and red spots...but by the time they do they have become such a favourite that you no longer care about their colours.

And the high-fin sharks have to be the ultimate, going from absolutely spectacular youngsters to one of the ugliest, most awkwardly misshapen monstrosities in the hobby...and monstrously huge as well!...but with no endearing personality to make their ugliness easier to accept.

 

[Deadeye]

As mentioned, Distuchodus sexfasciatus
There’s also some marine angels out there that look great both young and adult, but the adults just don’t compare to the young.

 

[FINWIN]

We're all familiar with the story of the ugly duckling which grew up not be an ugly duckling at all, but a beautiful graceful swan. No doubt we have a few similar fish examples in our hobby. Either fish that are blah when they are young but grow to be stunners, or, fish that are stunning when young but end up plain and boring.

There are plenty of cichlids that fall into this category but for me the one fish that sticks out more than any other is the Distochodus Sexfasciatus. Stunningly beautiful when young but morphs into possibly one of the blandest fish in the hobby. I had a chance a few years ago to get a couple of these guys at about 5". As much as I wanted them I passed on them, simply because i knew what they'd turn out like.

This fish must have the most dramatic downturn in misfortune than any other fish, unless you guys have some other examples.

View attachment 1481918

View attachment 1481919

Blecch

 

[jjohnwm]

Blecch

Really?

Ever seen a "sacred clown loach" when it's around a foot long? They look like a Great Dane poop at that point.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Clown loaches can retain their color when they get large (as in 20+ cm). For example: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/large-clown-loach-9”.721410/

Pretty sure the males retain it while the females get washed out.

On the other hand, for my 2 cents, I personally consider washed out clown loaches special enough for the washing out to not matter (as in the example of the lungfish). That's proof of how long they've lived.

 

[PhishMon84]

Clown loaches can retain their color when they get large (as in 20+ cm). For example: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/large-clown-loach-9”.721410/

Pretty sure the males retain it while the females get washed out.

On the other hand, for my 2 cents, I personally consider washed out clown loaches special enough for the washing out to not matter (as in the example of the lungfish). That's proof of how long they've lived.

I had a trio of 10"-ers i believe i had gotten them in 2010 that i lost when i moved 2 years ago. I lost a lot of my older fish moving... but as they get larger they take on an olive color instead of orange.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Yep. Sounds like females to me.