What is this Hypan?

[tagamasid1023]

This was labeled L066. Is it the real deal? Thanks.

[mjh712]

It looks like my L066's but mine are still to young to sex. I've had them about a month and they are about 2". One is my pic, the other two have thinner caramel colored lines. The one in my pic is starting to go from brown with black stripes to about half & half now, to black with brown stripes.

[tagamasid1023]

Thanks. This one is around 3-3.5 inches. It moves like my female L066 which is a bit longer and rounder. The female L066 also has more a "scribbled" pattern. Attached are its photos taken from different occasions.

[mjh712]

No problem. I've attached pictures of 2 of mine if you want to compare. The first is one is one of two I have that look like the one you asked about, the second (my other one), which after some research, I've come to understand shows the variability of the species.

First one.


Second one (when I got it)


Second one (20 days later). You can see the black markings getting thicker. I'll try to get another picture soon just to track progress since its been another two weeks since this picture was taken

[Suckermouth]

tag, I think both of your fish are L66. Not 100% sure on that though.

mjh, none of your fish are L66. The first one is H. debilittera. The second one appears to be an unusual color morph from the Orinoco that has been discussed in other threads.

[mjh712]

Well that explains my curiosity when I got them. I had ordered them from a LFS, should I contact them about it?

[tagamasid1023]

Thanks Suckermouth. Did some research, Aqualog shows L066s with patterns similar to my 1st Hypan. I think L066's patterns can be as distinct as a human fingerprint. None can be exactly identical.

[tagamasid1023]

MJH712, how much did you pay for them? I hope you didn't pay a lot for them. Most LFS have terrible return or exchange policy.

[mjh712]

$53 per. I sent them an email, maybe they'll be reasonable. If not I'll just stick to my usual LFS. I checked the stores stock list when they came bc i was a bit curious, but L129 wasn't on it, & nothing looked close. At least I made them aware of the mistake bc im sure someone else out there probably purchased the fish from the same group. Plus I read somewhere L066 have a wide variation of pattern as juv, so I guess that gave me a false sense of security. Now, can I get some info on the color morph?

[pleco22]

hi,

@ mjh712
great Hypancistrus! Pattern reminds at H. sp. "Platinum" a very rare variant. Please provide more info and pictures of the fish. I don't know, but I think that this kind of pattern is kind of a morph that occurs among any species of Hypancistrus. In my experience all of the fry looks like the standard no like the morphed parents. This means - the pattern is no variant - ist like an error - of course a beautiful error

[Suckermouth]

MJH712, how much did you pay for them? I hope you didn't pay a lot for them. Most LFS have terrible return or exchange policy.

An L66 price would be overpriced on the H. debilittera, but a steal for something as rare as the second fish.

mjh, see this thread on the platinum Hypancistrus: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 13&t=35924

[mjh712]

Pleco22, I have a few more pics. I'll create a new post & post a few & also a link to my Flickr account once I snap a few more pics & set up a folder for the fish.

Thanks to all of you for your help & information. I'll update you on what the LFS responds when I hear back

[plecoboy]

If the L66 are wilds. Then you paid the current price
What fishstore did you visit?

[Unungy]

No problem. I've attached pictures of 2 of mine if you want to compare. The first is one is one of two I have that look like the one you asked about, the second (my other one), which after some research, I've come to understand shows the variability of the species.

First one =

Hypancistrus debilittera

Second one = H.sp."Platinum", or in Japan H.sp."Emperor"

These unique specimens are from the Orinoco Basin up north. I've been doing some research about them and they don't exist in numbers.
They are the "one off" Fry of the Hypancistrus sp. Debilittera L129\L340. These can not be collected in quantities and my guess is that if you put 2 and 2 of the same fish to breed, There are not guarantees that you'll get all offspring s with the same partners.

I've provided my specimens to breeders in the USA to confirm this theory.

Great finding for cheap! It seems to be a female too.