This is kind of my point. If I buy a juvenile and raise it right, does it matter?
There are minor differences yes, it’s like with the Regal Angelfish, all juveniles look identical but as they age they show differences.
Yes, my question is do you think that they are genetically different from birth, or it was the quality of care when growing or the way they were harvested.There are minor differences yes, it’s like with the Regal Angelfish, all juveniles look identical but as they age they show differences.
A mature Aussie Harlequin Tusk will have a bright pink line towards the back of their caudal fin and also show a much brighter blue tusk.
Neither of these photos are mine however, here’s an Indonesian Harlequin (bottom) against and Australian (top).
Genetically, it’s likely there are minor differences however to be under the same species, they will likely have the same base genetics. It’s like the Pygoplites genus. It was questionable if they were even different species until science dove further into their genetics and looked closer just to discover minor ‘defects’ in each variant and giving the two a subspecies so now they’re known as P. d. flavescens and P. d. diacanthus.
I disagree here. I think both of these are young Australian Tusks with #1 older and larger than #2. The second tusk is youger and smaller because the eye appears larger with respect to the head as compare to tusk #1 and tusk #2 has not developed blue tusks yet while tusk #1 clearly has blue tusks. That is why his tail is not bluerThere are minor differences yes, it’s like with the Regal Angelfish, all juveniles look identical but as they age they show differences.
A mature Aussie Harlequin Tusk will have a bright pink line towards the back of their caudal fin and also show a much brighter blue tusk.
Neither of these photos are mine however, here’s an Indonesian Harlequin (bottom) against and Australian (top).
So you are saying that they are different, but similar species. I can get on board with that. At first I thought it was BS and it was a coloration thing. The more I research it, like you said they are different fish. Different shape etcI keep several Australian and Indo-Pacific Tusk over the years. Sometime back I really do research to see if I can reliably ID each sub-species. It is likely, more likely than not IMO, that they will be reclassified as different species in the future.
After looking at fish and pictures of fish that are reliably ID as IndoPacific or Australian, I came up with these differences, that is not depends on shades red on the tail or intensity of color as these can really changes with health of the fish.
1. The shape of the fish is different. Indo-Pacific are wider, height to lenght ratio is higher in Indo-Pacific than Australian.
2. Width of the orange band in Indo-Pacific from the orange band 5,6,7 and 8 are thinner in Australina Tusk in comparison to Indo-Pacific Tusks. These changes, width of the bands exaggerated with age.
3. Facial marking, there are a lot more black on the face of the Indo-Pacific Tusks in comparison to the Australian Tusk, especially the second bar through the eyes, and the third bar on the gill.
There are a variety of minor color variations, but these cannot be use reliably since they depends on the health of the fish and their mood. The three characteristics above are independent of health and mood of the fish.
Live Aquaria are masters at taken picture of the animal to show their best, and almost always correctly ID their fish, at least until the latest owner. I am not saying that the current owner do not correctly ID their fish. I just don't have experience with the current ownership of Live Aquaria.
I that was what I used to show the differences that I identify when I do search on this beautiful fish.
Because these differences are more than just minor coloration, I am fairly certain that if any scientist study this species, will find that they are different enough that it is highly unlikely that they interbreed, and should qualify as separate species.
Australian Tusk facial marking.
Indo-Pacific Tusk facial marking
2 Indo-Pacific Tusks
2 Australian Tusks
Either way, they are both beautiful entertaining fish.I keep several Australian and Indo-Pacific Tusk over the years. Sometime back I really do research to see if I can reliably ID each sub-species. It is likely, more likely than not IMO, that they will be reclassified as different species in the future.
After looking at fish and pictures of fish that are reliably ID as IndoPacific or Australian, I came up with these differences, that is not depends on shades red on the tail or intensity of color as these can really changes with health of the fish.
1. The shape of the fish is different. Indo-Pacific are wider, height to lenght ratio is higher in Indo-Pacific than Australian.
2. Width of the orange band in Indo-Pacific from the orange band 5,6,7 and 8 are thinner in Australina Tusk in comparison to Indo-Pacific Tusks. These changes, width of the bands exaggerated with age.
3. Facial marking, there are a lot more black on the face of the Indo-Pacific Tusks in comparison to the Australian Tusk, especially the second bar through the eyes, and the third bar on the gill.
There are a variety of minor color variations, but these cannot be use reliably since they depends on the health of the fish and their mood. The three characteristics above are independent of health and mood of the fish.
Live Aquaria are masters at taken picture of the animal to show their best, and almost always correctly ID their fish, at least until the latest owner. I am not saying that the current owner do not correctly ID their fish. I just don't have experience with the current ownership of Live Aquaria.
I that was what I used to show the differences that I identify when I do search on this beautiful fish.
Because these differences are more than just minor coloration, I am fairly certain that if any scientist study this species, will find that they are different enough that it is highly unlikely that they interbreed, and should qualify as separate species.
Australian Tusk facial marking.
Indo-Pacific Tusk facial marking
2 Indo-Pacific Tusks
2 Australian Tusks
Biota?I just bought one of these 1.5-2” fellas, I was told it’s Captive Bred Aussie HT. It’s in my QT, very feisty pellet eater…a very good start I would say.
Australia is below the equator, so the upside down one is probably Aussey!I just bought one of these 1.5-2” fellas, I was told it’s Captive Bred Aussie HT. It’s in my QT, very feisty pellet eater…a very good start I would say.
This was was very small. I believe someone got him while he was sleeping.
