Geo Sp Red Head Tapajos Or Not?

[kaivalagi]

Hi All,

Some may remember questions I raised a long time ago on whether one of my 5 geophagus red head tapajos was actually so...

The question has still not gone from my mind and I thought after some growth I'd post comparison pics between equally sized tapajos and the "might be" tapajos fish. The 2 fish compared were bought at the same time from the same LFS tank.

These first 2 pics are the suspected non tapajos geo':

An these 2 pics are of definite tapajos variety of geo I have (closest matching size to the above)

Could it be that the first fish pictured is infected? I find it hard to believe though as the fish has too many differences e.g. more red colouration of fins, lack of full fin patterning, pelvic fin has no whitening, eye colour differs too. It is the slowest growing of the group and doesn't mix with them all that well...but seems healthy and eats as well as the rest which is greedily

If not a tapajos then what do you think the first pictured geo is?
edit:Abalios or maybe a surinamensis (if they really exist)?

Your advice and comments would be very gratefully received

Cheers

 

[star4]

I would suspect albios or altfrons both hard to distinguish when small. Ask Minxfishy if she has any pics of hers when young.

 

[minxfishy]

It does have different tail markings and dorsal fin to the others, so I wouldnt think its a tapajos, its not surinamensis and its not abalios, but as for a definative ID Im not sure.

 

[star4]

I knew I had no idea, I only have the big ones

 

[Wills]

Yeah Im pretty confused on this as well.... The plain tail is throwing me completely - They might be a dull coloured female but the lack of the striped tail is quite unusual....

Wills

 

[PDSimon]

There is an article about these guys in practical fishkeeping magazine...*reads*

 

[Big_eyes]

Wouldn't be a young Geophagus Winemilleri would it?

 

[Flagtail]

Those are some nice geos.

 

[kaivalagi]

Wouldn't be a young Geophagus Winemilleri would it?

That's by far the best match so far, and I would be very happy if I do have on of those!

Look very nice when adult!

 

[kaivalagi]

Better match is a Dicrozoster after further investigation


However, I think the only real way of knowing now will be to watch him/her grow and see

 

[kaivalagi]

Well, very distinctive cheek marks have arrived as well as a dark spot underneath the head, and I think I can just make out a very faint Y shape towards the tail but it's early days for that I guess...

Any other geo's with the cheek marks that could fit the profile or is it most likely a Dicrozoster?

Thanks for all the helpful pointers!