Which "Texas"? - ID please

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

Joao M

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2010
1,014
9
68
Portugal
I got this fish from Miguel, that got it at a lfs we usually go to.

Labeled as H. carpintis, but looks a bit different from the regular ones.

If you had to guess (and that´s all we can do without knowing the origin), what would you say it is? Could it be an "escondido", a "vontehillo", plain "always stressed" regular one?

20130525041.jpg


Thanks in advance
 
Here is a chairel for comparison.
male

female

A pic with facial markings sometimes helps determine separate species ie whether cyanoguttatus, or tamasopo, or carpintus, or minckleyi, but location variants are much more difficult, if not impossible.
Within a location, there can be many variations in spotting or striations, just as genetic variation in human facial features. Even species can be difficult.
tamasopo

 
Thank you so much for your replies. And special thanks to Duanes for having the trouble of looking for and posting those pics.

Unfortunately I don´t have any other pics in this computer, but I will try to get new ones at home (today is diff. but tomorrow most likely).

I am aware that it would be impossible to determine the variant just by looking at pics, but since it does look diff from the regular H. carpintis, my question had more to do with the "looks" than de "origin/collection point".

In fact, the fish base colour is very dark (black) and not brownish as the regular green texas, and the dots are metallic blue. So instead of brown/green it´s black/blue.

That´s why I got curious to find out if this traits were characteristic of a specific variant.

Anyway, I will try to get closer pics, specially head pics
 
Black is very normal for a Green Texas, and all Green Texas can alternate between a blue and green coloration at will. Some never do, some do it all the time. The latter half and bottom of their jaw also goes jet black when they want to spawn (called a breeding dress) which also sometimes appear during aggressive displays.Take a look at my blog, I posted ways to differentiate between the localities. Of course, there's much variation amongst individuals of the same localities, and hybrids between the different localities means that some fish simply can't be determined where its origins are anymore. But still, it's give you an idea.
 
There is only ONE fish with the common name of "Texas" (or Rio Grande) cichlid. That is Hericthys cyanguttatus. The fish in this thread is Hericthys carpinte...common name Carpinte. All this "Green Texas/Blue Texas" talk is just nuts. Call the fish by the scientific name and KNOW which it is. Matt is correct, unless you have a collection point, it's impossible to tell for sure the variant. You are likely to get all kinds of guesses and looks like...but not the correct answer. Part of the reason your fish appears so dark is that it's being viewed/photographed against a white sand substrate. Carpinte are one of my faves...regardless of the flavor. Good luck with it.
 
Aquamojo said:
There is only ONE fish with the common name of "Texas" (or Rio Grande) cichlid. That is Hericthys cyanguttatus. The fish in this thread is Hericthys carpinte...common name Carpinte. All this "Green Texas/Blue Texas" talk is just nuts. Call the fish by the scientific name and KNOW which it is. Matt is correct, unless you have a collection point, it's impossible to tell for sure the variant. You are likely to get all kinds of guesses and looks like...but not the correct answer. Part of the reason your fish appears so dark is that it's being viewed/photographed against a white sand substrate. Carpinte are one of my faves...regardless of the flavor. Good luck with it.
Click to expand...

Herichthys carpintis, not Herichthys carpinte - in case you want to use the current correct version.

Green Texas is and has been for a very long time the common name for a Herichthys carpintis. Just because some people mistake names or can't care less doesn't mean it's wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom