Platyfish in Ky - Actually Gambusia sp.
Started by
Guest_Sho Bud_*
, May 16 2014 10:43 AM
12 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 16 May 2014 - 10:52 AM
So, first thing I should say is that there's a list of the fish in Kentucky provided by the state government, which is pretty cool. Here's a link:
http://fw.ky.gov/Mor...kyfishid[1].pdf
The gravid spot certainly does scream livebearer. But you've got another livebearer to consider, the only poeciliidae native to Kentucky, the mosquitofish AKA gambusia affinis. It's on page 28 of that pdf. One way to tell the difference between mosquitofish and platies is to take a picture with a male's gonopodium in view. Mosquitofish gonopodiums are differently shaped. Can you take a picture of a male with his gonopodium in focus? and without the water droplets on the plastic/glass. Super awkward question, but it's for ID purposes. A clear photo of the head shape would also help.
Here's what a male gambusia affinis looks like:
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mosquitofish
http://fw.ky.gov/Mor...kyfishid[1].pdf
The gravid spot certainly does scream livebearer. But you've got another livebearer to consider, the only poeciliidae native to Kentucky, the mosquitofish AKA gambusia affinis. It's on page 28 of that pdf. One way to tell the difference between mosquitofish and platies is to take a picture with a male's gonopodium in view. Mosquitofish gonopodiums are differently shaped. Can you take a picture of a male with his gonopodium in focus? and without the water droplets on the plastic/glass. Super awkward question, but it's for ID purposes. A clear photo of the head shape would also help.
Here's what a male gambusia affinis looks like:
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mosquitofish
#9
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 16 May 2014 - 01:44 PM
Eh, you'd be surprised. Not all swordless xiphophorus are maculatus. Some, like my xiphophorus xiphidium are also compact bodied. Others, like couchianus, milleri, variatus, birchmanii, etc can have different body shapes.The fish is too long in proportion to its height to be a platy.
Example, xiphophorus milleri of Lake Catemaco
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/47340
#10
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 16 May 2014 - 04:22 PM
Yes there are some slender-body platy species that are almost Gambusi-oid in shape. Counting dorsal fin rays should be reliable: usually 6 or 7 dorsal rays in Gambusia affinis & holbrooki, vs 10 or more in Xiphophorus. Some of those other Tex-Mex Gambusia species have 8-9 dorsal rays.
#13
Guest_Subrosa_*
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Posted 16 May 2014 - 06:30 PM
The kind of folks who go through the trouble to obtain X. miller, X. couchianus, etc aren't likely to be turning them loose. Maculatus on the other hand every moron and his idiot brother can get at PETCO.Eh, you'd be surprised. Not all swordless xiphophorus are maculatus. Some, like my xiphophorus xiphidium are also compact bodied. Others, like couchianus, milleri, variatus, birchmanii, etc can have different body shapes.
Example, xiphophorus milleri of Lake Catemaco
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/47340
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