onyx? or to early to tell.

[soccerbum474]

I picked these to babies up from a semi-local fish store and i came across a clutch of babies tank-raised true perc's for $12.99 each. I couldnt pass up not getting the little beauties. I picked out the largest one and another with the most black on its vest (between front and middle stripes). Its been little over a week and they're growing slightly and their colors are becoming more bold and im now starting to think they might turn out to be onyx's. tell me what you think.

 

[ILLiDaN]

i would say to early to tell

 

[soccerbum474]

can the black coloration dissipate during maturation? theses little guys have really excited me, if they turn out to be onyx it will be a h#ll of a deal if not then $13 for a TR true perc is still a good deal.

also is there an estimated time at which the tail stripe with be fully devoloped?

 

[ILLiDaN]

correct me if i am wrong but stripe development is anywhere aroun9-12 months. There are many things that can affect the black coloration. Mainly you will notice it a lot more if they are hosting something. I think those clowns are just going to have a really dark vest and perhaps a slight chance of black dorsal. But only time will tell.

 

[soccerbum474]

well hosting its a problems with these guys the tank at the store had two BTA and once i put them in my tank they started to host my frogspawn and pagoda cup. the larger one hosts both corals and kicks the small on out into open water but at night they sleep together in the frogspawn. I havent owned percs before nor had baby fish (both under 1") whats the growth rate and down the road im going to breed them, how old do they have to be to spawn?

 

[ILLiDaN]

At around a year most seem to be mature enough to spawn. The fact that they are hosting frogspawn is sweet because mine colored darkened fast. With bta's they could lose the dark coloration, but it is hit and miss.

 

[soccerbum474]

Illadan do you have a tank tread? would like to take a look at ur clowns

 

[ILLiDaN]

had pictures they were deleted, hopefully soon as i get my new skimmer installed ill take pics of tank and clowns

 

[this is me]

Way too early to tell.

 

[kerusso316]

There black is comming in very early.Middle bars are not fully developed and already nice black vest.

 

[soccerbum474]

im guessing haiving this much black so early is a good sign atleast.

kerusso: wow you have some SICK clowns.. the top one's white swirls is unreal!

 

[kerusso316]

They only exist in my mind an photoshop.

 

[soccerbum474]

haha.. fooled me