Colour contrast - L128 Blue phantoms

[ColumbianChocolate]

Here is a picture of my 2 blue phantom plecos. The pleco on the left is 2.5" long and the pleco on the right is 4" long. There is quite a large contrast in the colourings of the same species. I just wondered if the blue, green and yellow hues darken as they get older and larger or is it a variation between the sex or location they are caught or something else?

[MatsP]

I'd say it's mainly location...

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Mats

[Barbie]

My very blue L128 have grown more and more green over the years in my tanks. Is it possible the larger of your fish is the more recently caught? Perhaps it is a dietary issue? If not, I would definitely have to assume it is collection locales.

Barbie

[MatsP]

I agree barbie, there is difference in fish after it's been in captivity for a while.

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Mats

[FunkyFredFrog]

From what I read its about where in the river theyre caught - they start off as L128 in one position and gradually turn more green until the fully green one's are labelled as L200.

Would you concur Mats?

[MatsP]

Yes, but I'm not sure ALL variations exist, or if they suddenly turn distinctly blue - I've not seen a "green but almost blue" fish - they are blue hinting towards green, or distinctly green.

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Mats

[FunkyFredFrog]

Yeah - I'm no expert but the one on the left is different to what I've seen myself. I've seen them all the same 'hue' before - not multi-coloured.

I love L128's - mine's gone to the amazon in the sky unfortunately!

[Suckermouth]

The gradation between L128 and H. subviridis has not been studied to the point I can say that there is or is not a break between them. Certainly there are blue fish, green fish, and fish I consider to be in between. Whether there is a continuous gradient or whether the colorations separate out is an important question pertinent to whether or not L128 should be described as a species. Unfortunately, the simple fact is I don't think anyone knows. However, I think most people believe that the variation is due to geography. With good sampling, you should be able to see if there are any age (or at least size) and sex effects on coloration as well (though I think most people agree there isn't any effect from these two).

[MatsP]

Prices on wholesalers/shop lists doesn't show any great difference in price between L128 and H. subviridis, so I don't think it's very rare. If anything, L128 seem easier to find in shops than H. subviridis - at least lately.

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Mats

[Suckermouth]

Prices on wholesalers/shop lists doesn't show any great difference in price between L128 and H. subviridis, so I don't think it's very rare. If anything, L128 seem easier to find in shops than H. subviridis - at least lately.

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Mats

This is not the case in the states; L128 tends to be both more expensive and less common... In any case, I don't think appearance in the aquarium trade is a great metric for abundance in the wild. For example, P. nigrolineatus has constantly appeared in the aquarium trade for decades, but I have also been told it is uncommon in the wild.

Whether or not L128 actually is rare is arguable, but I don't think we can say whether it is or not based on our supply from the fish trade.

[2wheelsx2]

Yes, the L128 is more $ here in Canada here too, than the L200 H. subviridis. I have the same thing in my tank. 3 of the L128 are that dark smoky grey while 2 of them have varying degrees of green. They all started out the same colour. 2 of the 5 I have had for more than a year, while the other 3 are < 6 months. Could it also be diet related? I feed a lot of yam (orange flesh) and pellets (NLS, Dainichi, earthworm sticks) and sometimes raw carrots and peas.

[Suckermouth]

Yes, the L128 is more $ here in Canada here too, than the L200 H. subviridis. I have the same thing in my tank. 3 of the L128 are that dark smoky grey while 2 of them have varying degrees of green. They all started out the same colour. 2 of the 5 I have had for more than a year, while the other 3 are < 6 months. Could it also be diet related? I feed a lot of yam (orange flesh) and pellets (NLS, Dainichi, earthworm sticks) and sometimes raw carrots and peas.

Coloration may be affected by diet and habitat, but if the pics of L128 fry posted by some time ago are to believed, there is a large amount of heritability in blue coloration.