Vieja guttulata or zonata?

duanes

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Isla Taboga Panama via Milwaukee
Because when Vieja are young all species tend to look similar, its hard to tell.
As an example
To me your pic #1 looks more like melanurus.

or even young bifasciatus than either of the two you mention.

and the 2nd pic looks more like a female breidhori

But of course they could just as well be zonatus or guttulata, or some hybrid combination (especially these days).
I have kept all of the above, juvie thru adult, and guess you need to wait until they are older and show adult colors to tell.
 
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fishdat

Polypterus
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Dec 31, 2014
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Western Canada
Because when Vieja are young all species tend to look similar, its hard to tell.
As an example
To me your pic #1 looks more like melanurus.

or even young bifasciatus than either of the two you mention.

and the 2nd pic looks more like a female breidhori

But of course they could just as well be zonatus or guttulata, or some hybrid combination (especially these days).
I have kept all of the above, juvie thru adult, and guess you need to wait until they are older and show adult colors to tell.
If it helps, the fish is around 8" and has an identical body shape to my maculicauda vs my melanura or breidohri. But I figured it would be a shot in the dark due to age. I struggle with telling guttulata and zonata apart, since I've never seen adults in person and Google images shows both when you search for one.
 
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