Vontehillos

[caribemob]

Isn't that region of the country riddled with cenotes? If I'm remembering it correctly, that would mean the freshwater areas would have sheer walls leading down to deep pools. These sorts of places would typically receive short durations of direct sunlight and be dim to dark most of the time. That would explain a species developing pearls to make for more impressive displays to attract females and warn off rival males.
So, a dark-bottom tank with dark sides and back should promote the fish to heighten their coloration for the reasons stated earlier.
This is all just my reasoning and opinion. I tend to look at a species' ecosystem when I'm trying to understand traits of the species in question.

very good point Oddball

 

[cchhcc]

Yes, but that's not the case with these fish. They are very widely spread in several types of environments.

Also, many to most fish with spangles are evolved to feed in bright light over sandy flats and the like. The reflection of bright lights off the spangles look like glitter lines in the water and serve to obscure the outline of the fish as an anti-predation measure. That's why so many fish from these habitats in different parts of the world end up looking the same. It's called convergent evolution.

For instance, rostratus from CA looks very much like leucosticta from SA.

 

[John Rambo]

Also adding a black background to the back of the tank would make the colors 'pop'.

What Ive done here is exactly the opposite (not intentionally) but this Vontehillo still shines more on a white or even blue backround than my Escondidos .
I know he is no adult, but he is about 5". Most pics of Vonts ive seen are of smaller ones. Does any one have any larger than 5"? When my Escondido hit 5", he looked almost like how he does now at 8-9". The only thing different is his nuchal hump being bigger. I dont think there will be much of a difference from the pics. I think this is how the adult Vont will look.
Attached Thumbnails

 

[the animal guy]

If other locations get to have their names on the fish, then Vontehillos and whatever places that have Carpintes should too. Such as the Vontehillos. But it should not be taken too too deep.. Still the same type of fish..

To me, the Escondidos are the best type in general, but an example like your fish, JohnRambo, is when they are even steven. Whatever location they came from doesnt matter if they look good to your eyes. If I have two of the best Carpintes from 2 locations, I would breed them to diminish the segregation within their own race and move on to look at the next fish. It's just the humans and their minds that make things so complicated..

But then I do understand from the view of a hardcore pureist.. There are ppl out there that are more interested in other things besides the fish..

 

[Oddball]

Yes, but that's not the case with these fish. They are very widely spread in several types of environments.

Also, many to most fish with spangles are evolved to feed in bright light over sandy flats and the like. The reflection of bright lights off the spangles look like glitter lines in the water and serve to obscure the outline of the fish as an anti-predation measure. That's why so many fish from these habitats in different parts of the world end up looking the same. It's called convergent evolution.

For instance, rostratus from CA looks very much like leucosticta from SA.

Good point. I took a stab since I saw alot of deep dark clear-water cenote pools while on fossil digs in that part of the country. I saw fish that were cichlid shaped but couldn't devote any time to investigating (the dig was with a group. And, no fish catching equipment).

 

[John Rambo]

If other locations get to have their names on the fish, then Vontehillos and whatever places that have Carpintes should too. Such as the Vontehillos. But it should not be taken too too deep.. Still the same type of fish..

To me, the Escondidos are the best type in general, but an example like your fish, JohnRambo, is when they are even steven. Whatever location they came from doesnt matter if they look good to your eyes. If I have two of the best Carpintes from 2 locations, I would breed them to diminish the segregation within their own race and move on to look at the next fish. It's just the humans and their minds that make things so complicated..

But then I do understand from the view of a hardcore pureist.. There are ppl out there that are more interested in other things besides the fish..

What I was trying to say was that my escondido at 5" looks not much different from my escondido at 8-9". So my vont, which looks alot different from my escondido, is 5" now and should look similar when he is a full grown adult. There is alot of talk or question about how the vonts will look when they are adults, but I dont think they will be much different from the vont I have in the photo at 5"

I dont think the vont looks like escondidos at all. the facial worm pearls are bigger and brighter. not as different as the difference between blue vs the green umbies, but still different, so Im not going to breed mine together. Im not a pureist, I just appreciate the difference between the carpintis strains.

 

[the animal guy]

I do notice they are not the same. Because the escondidos got their own unique type pearls. And your's is a good example of what it is with those bigo pearls at the face. Saying they are the same type of fish is saying Carpintes in General. Not just comparing to look for differences so small. Hope you get me.
It is nice to keep their strain pure, and it should be done if they breed on and keep these traits. I do appreciate their differences. But for me and my fun or enjoyment with cichlids, I do would love to see all the best traits in one fish too.

 

[cchhcc]

There are about a dozen Vonts at my lfs. I'm giving serious thought about buying all of them, getting an equal number of Escons, and putting this issue to bed.

Not sure I want to waste tank space on this exercise though.

 

[the animal guy]

I would get a pair of them. But do they have big pearls like J. Rambo's fish? If not then J rambo's fish is just a rare lucky one with big pearls. Get them! They are not a waste of space once they shine in your tank. They are a waste of space if you dont carre for them.