So, about a month ago I visited Absolutely Fish in Newark, NJ. I have been there several times and have never been disappointed. Among several very cool fish, and the run of the mill, I spotted a fish they apparently were unaware they had (despite they being very knowledgeable). Unlabeled, single specimen, nobody including manager knew what I was, and did not come listed in their shipment. So, a contaminant. I knew it was an Anostomidae, but also knew it was not an Anostomus. I had to have it, and brought it home.
I proudly introduce it here, as Laemolyta sp. cf L. garmani (Borodin, 1931), a headstander (no common name to my knowledge). In fact, I am almost certain it is this species, which has a broad Amazonian distribution, including much of Brazil, and also parts of Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the Essequibo Basin of Guyana.
Absolutely gorgeous fish in my opinion. It is sharing a 125g with 3 large Hemiodus (6-7 inch, an angel, Lemon tetras, and pleco, and cories. Doing well so far. It is supposed to max out (in the wild) at ~220mm (8.5 inches), which is not small; however, it is a very slender fish. Currently it is ~3 inches long. Below, pictures of the new fish while still in quarantine, more to come.
Anybody keeping this fish? Any other Anostomids? Share to comment or show your fish?
The most comprehensive review of Laemolyta (Anostomidae) is that of Mautari et al. (2006)-attached. They consider the genus as consisting of 5 species (several other names in synonymy), and describe L. garmani as most similar to two other species (L. orinocensis, and L. taeniata), but differing slightly in coloration, and in their key, L. garmani is the only Laemolyta with 4 longitudinal rows of scales above the lateral line. That, the and coloration pattern described therein is what I think I see in my fish (but I am not sacrificing the fish to count scales under the microscope).
So, the first picture (3 views) my happy find (Laemolyta). For comparison, the second picture shows current views of my Anostomus anostomus (in another 6 ft tank), which was featured in another thread I posted some time ago. I have had this fish for now almost 8 years, and have been very happy with it - link
Cheers!
I proudly introduce it here, as Laemolyta sp. cf L. garmani (Borodin, 1931), a headstander (no common name to my knowledge). In fact, I am almost certain it is this species, which has a broad Amazonian distribution, including much of Brazil, and also parts of Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the Essequibo Basin of Guyana.
Absolutely gorgeous fish in my opinion. It is sharing a 125g with 3 large Hemiodus (6-7 inch, an angel, Lemon tetras, and pleco, and cories. Doing well so far. It is supposed to max out (in the wild) at ~220mm (8.5 inches), which is not small; however, it is a very slender fish. Currently it is ~3 inches long. Below, pictures of the new fish while still in quarantine, more to come.
Anybody keeping this fish? Any other Anostomids? Share to comment or show your fish?
The most comprehensive review of Laemolyta (Anostomidae) is that of Mautari et al. (2006)-attached. They consider the genus as consisting of 5 species (several other names in synonymy), and describe L. garmani as most similar to two other species (L. orinocensis, and L. taeniata), but differing slightly in coloration, and in their key, L. garmani is the only Laemolyta with 4 longitudinal rows of scales above the lateral line. That, the and coloration pattern described therein is what I think I see in my fish (but I am not sacrificing the fish to count scales under the microscope).
So, the first picture (3 views) my happy find (Laemolyta). For comparison, the second picture shows current views of my Anostomus anostomus (in another 6 ft tank), which was featured in another thread I posted some time ago. I have had this fish for now almost 8 years, and have been very happy with it - link
Beautiful but Jerk(ish) Anostomus & other HEADSTANDERS
Cheers!