How do u tell them apart? I read something about a dark spot at the base of the tail, but I don't see any spots on mine, and they are red red red........very red.
H. lifalili vs. H. bimaculatus vs. H. ssp.
- Thread starter Frank Castle
- Start date
First of all, the common jewel in the hobby is Hemichromis guttatus. It was mis-identified many, many years ago, and is still called Hemichromis bimaculatus by many today. H. bimaculatus Is a very rare fish in the hobby ; unlikely you will ever see one.
H. lifalili is in the hobby, though it is very uncommon. My understanding is that the vast majority of those labeled H. liifalili are really just a colorfull strain of H. guttatus.
Unless the fish are wild caught with a known collection point, chances are, any jewel you see are likely H. guttatus. Any of the commonly available aquarium strain jewels are H. guttatus. Even the neon jewel is thought to be a line bred strain of H. guttatus.
H. lifalili is in the hobby, though it is very uncommon. My understanding is that the vast majority of those labeled H. liifalili are really just a colorfull strain of H. guttatus.
Unless the fish are wild caught with a known collection point, chances are, any jewel you see are likely H. guttatus. Any of the commonly available aquarium strain jewels are H. guttatus. Even the neon jewel is thought to be a line bred strain of H. guttatus.
so how do I tell them apart and what does it mean if there is no dark spot at the base of the tail.
The true lifalili has a yellow belly. Like these H. cf lifalili from Moanda.