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can anyone tell me why my has such a strange color? it is a younger copy and I haven't had it that long. this is the only one with this faint color. sick? malnourished? I wonder if anyone can tell me more.

In the store de fish look diffrent

That almost looks like L052... any chance there was a mix-up?

Fallen_Leaves16 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2024, 13:51That almost looks like L052... any chance there was a mix-up?

Good catch! Not "almost"... "is" .

Cheers,
Eric

If you don't mind, could we turn this into a "teachable moment" and learn how you caught that difference? Based on the body patterns in those photos I'm thinking I've seen L052 sold as L134 but never realized. I figured it was a difference between Tapajos and Jamanxim populations.

Others will be able to add better info, but L052 is noticeably 'flatter' and not as full-bodied; the eyes are larger (in comparison to the head) and located closer to the top of the skull, fin shapes and placement are slightly different, and as you noted the pattern is much more "muted", even in relatively well-coloured and content specimens like yours- L052 also has much more even striping when younger, with large, somewhat irregular spots in larger specimens, as opposed to L134, which despite possessing rather regular striping in juveniles and young, has a pattern that quickly breaks up into numerous, irregular, elongate blotches and somewhat fine spots (?).

Fallen_Leaves16 wrote: ↑09 Apr 2024, 13:50Others will be able to add better info, but L052 is noticeably 'flatter' and not as full-bodied; the eyes are larger (in comparison to the head) and located closer to the top of the skull, fin shapes and placement are slightly different, and as you noted the pattern is much more "muted", even in relatively well-coloured and content specimens like yours- L052 also has much more even striping when younger, with large, somewhat irregular spots in larger specimens, as opposed to L134, which despite possessing rather regular striping in juveniles and young, has a pattern that quickly breaks up into numerous, irregular, elongate blotches and somewhat fine spots (?).

I think that accurately describes the comparison. is a flat wide species with oversized pectoral fins (and pelvic fins in males) and with large eyes set more dorsally than those of . Furthermore, the caudal fin of Dekeyseria picta has a notably smaller upper half, creating a backwards and downwards slant along the posterior margin of the caudal fin, where as Peckoltia compta has a more symmetrical tail fin. Also as stated above, the colors really look similar only when Peckoltia compta are young, but differ as both species age: Dekeyseria picta retains the striping but any yellow/cream body color becomes more subdued (and Dekeyseria picta can develop the dark camouflage color when stressed). Peckoltia compta retains the clean yellow body base color with age and the striped black lines break up and become more complex.

Cheers,
Eric

Yes, lower contrast pattern and larger eyes were what I saw first. If it helps, the first ever sold in Scotland was a pretty !

Cheers,

Jools