Urgent ID needed- is this L173

[Kema]

Hi Guys,

Could you please have a look at pictures and let me know, can thsi really be l173?

Pictures are from seller, and i havent seen fish live nor have more pictures. Its around 4 hours drive, so dont want to drive if its not a real L173

Thanks a lot for your fast replies.

I have to say if i take them or not in a day..

BR

Kema

[dconnors]

Wow, beautiful fish! If I were to guess I would say it looks like a 173-but I am far from an expert on the whole L98/L173/L236 thing. Good luck!

[jeane]

Hi,
i think they are certainly no L 173.

6 beautiful L 46 and one from a different species, maybe L 450.

Best regards,
Kurt

[Kema]

Hi Kurt,

Sorry for my poor explanation. yes there are 6 L46. The only question is about the fish from picture in a hand , or in top right corner in "the box"

They state, its L173. And its in germany, were they actually have L173. They claim they paid 350 euros ( like 500 usd) over a year ago for it. It is mature male, like 8-10 cm in size. So only question is is really L173...

Oh and i was told, color is more white then in picture, this is stress color..

[Unungy]

It is hard to say NO but it is in fact an l46.
often you see l46's with wave lines like those, I have a few in my collection but I like to call them L46 Variant cause they do look different. they are absolutely gorgeous but are L46.

He seems the only one in the group, correct?

Saul

[Kema]

Hi,

Thats correct its the only one. However i was told they bought all of them separate over years, and they bought this as L173

However, even being L46, its quite nice one i would say:)

[Unungy]

Yes it is a nice L46 to have. If the price is right I will keep the whole group.
Mature Zebras are hard to come by now days.

[pleco22]

Hi,
this fish (with wavy lines) is very untypical for Hypancistrus zebra and very close to fish usually sold as L 173. Bodyshape fits more to L 173. The quality of the picture is to bad, so I can't make a decision. But be careful. If this is a male, you will need females, and they are extremely rare.

Don't pay to much money for this fish.

[Kema]

Hi,

Well it is coming from Germany. Near aquarium Glacier. So potentially, it is a real one.It is coming with a group of L46. Should they be separated and L173 female searched? Or does it look closer to l46, and can be left with them, without worries of crossbreeding. Is there actually agreed/proven opinion if L173 and L46 are different species?

By the way, what is normal price? i mean in germany 173.de sells L173 for 150 euro of 5-6 cm.

What is it worth for like 9 cm long?

BR

[pleco22]

Hi,

perhaps Aquarium Glaser, not Glacier. But near by doesn't mean from! Some L 46 have wavy lines, very rare, but also if you bread them 1 of hundred could show this pattern. L 173 is seperated from L 46, gets bigger and shows a very variable pattern. L 173 could show this markings, but also shows different patterns. Some of them are nearly black with thin white lines. But that does not mean L 173 and L 46 are different species.

Tis image shows a non typical L 173:


If you ask me: Buy the L 46 and leave this special marked adult male. There is the danger of crossbreeding. and it will be very difficult to buy a fitting female.

Prices are very high, due to the export ban in Brasil. If you like getting L 173, try to get tank breeded fish and raise them. I do the same and its lovely to see 10 of them growing.

[xiaobai]

sorry to high jack. but has anyone bought L173 from L173.de? are the L173 genuine.?

[apistomaster]

Whether or not L173 are only a variant of L46 they do have different appearance.
I believe the distinctive traits should be preserved and interbreeding should not be practiced.

[Unungy]

I strongly agree with Larry.

Saul

[Kema]

Hi,

I do agree. Hopefully already next week i will buy couple females from same breeder, that needs some growing up, as he now has some that are 6 cm in size, so in a year or even less, they can breed. It seems, impossible to get L173 females that are grown up, or prices become what i would call "insane"

Thanks for your posts

[Sanplec]

If this was a L46, the eyes would be the same as L46.
Then the stripes on the fins are horizontal, that's correct for the L173.
But I don't know about the hybrids and L66 individuals etc.
However, I would say L173.

[johannes]

Hi Guys,

Could you please have a look at pictures and let me know, can thsi really be l173?

Pictures are from seller, and i havent seen fish live nor have more pictures. Its around 4 hours drive, so dont want to drive if its not a real L173

Thanks a lot for your fast replies.

I have to say if i take them or not in a day..

BR

Kema

the wavy fish should be L173.
take a look at the eyes, they are golden in colour. L46 has white/bluish eyes..