Bought as Chocolate Zebra Plec- mmmmm ?

[Proteus]

this fish is what I would always say is what I know as the panaque maccus


but the others pictured here on PF under the maccus are just too hard for me to accept that there are the same species though.


I agree now that I'm re-checking the irises/pupils the maccus tend to have more consistent band of gold wrapped around the pupil in a V shaped though


I now think dont think its L204 or the maccus. Its lines are too shaky to be a nice L204 though.

[JoePlec]

Still a L104

[MatsP]

Ok, so we're trying to ID the fish based on eye-colour, which I feel can be a bit variable, depending on lighting and on individual fish (and what we know as P. maccus in the trade is quite variable in general appearance).

However, even when stressed and small (my fish was about 1-1.5"/~3cm when I got them), L204 is nearly black. So, assuming the original colour in the first set of pictures is reasonably true to the actual fish, then I would say it's NOT L204.

I too own both of these fish.

It is of course entirely possible that the fish in question is neither P. maccus, nor L204. We could certainly show whether it is a Panaque species at all by seeing a photo of the mouth. It could for example be

Hypancistrus debilittera

or some sort of

Peckoltia

species... There are also some other species of Panaque that look similar, but not quite the same as both of P. maccus and L204.

So a clear mouth shot, and confirmation that the colour ofthe fish, when settled isn't black, would be good.

--
Mats

[racoll]

I agree now that I'm re-checking the irises/pupils the maccus tend to have more consistent band of gold wrapped around the pupil in a V shaped though

Ok, so we're trying to ID the fish based on eye-colour, which I feel can be a bit variable

I think rather than the entire iris colour, we're talking about the bright gold margin to the pupil.

Seems to be quite reliable looking at the pictures here PC.

[MatsP]

Ok. So looking carefully at the first pictures, I think there is a little tiny gold edge to the eyes - it's not easy to see, and the pictures aren't fantastic quality, so I'm not certain.

--
Mats

[dconnors]

I agree now that I'm re-checking the irises/pupils the maccus tend to have more consistent band of gold wrapped around the pupil in a V shaped though

Ok, so we're trying to ID the fish based on eye-colour, which I feel can be a bit variable

I think rather than the entire iris colour, we're talking about the bright gold margin to the pupil.

Seems to be quite reliable looking at the pictures here PC.

Yes Racoli, that is what I was referring to.

[terrylen]

After looking at the photos - mine definately looks closer to panaque maccus - i'll try and get a photo of the mouth on later to confirm it though
Thanks
Terry

[Firestorming]

Until I lost them to oodinium I had a "group" of 21 adult

Panaque maccus

and apart from seeing the mouth this fish looks identical to the ones I had, over a 5 year period I also produced over 800 juvies from this group, it is a bit too big to call a colony.

My money is on the maccus.

[racoll]

i'll try and get a photo of the mouth on later to confirm it though

I'm not aware that there is any difference in mouth morphology between P. maccus and L204.

I think Mats wanted to see the mouth to ensure that it wasn't a Hypancistrus or Peckoltia spp.

I think most people agree though that this fish is absolutely, certainly a Panaque, so mouth shots will not tell us much.

Better to get lateral shots of the fish in its regular surroundings showing its normal colour pattern.