Eighteen months ago on impulse I bought two female Festae juveniles from my LFS. Both beautifully marked, dark stripes with a yellow, orange underlying hue. The dominate female has grown to 9", the subordinate only 7".
Five months ago I bought four more juvenile Red Terrors. Although obviously Festae, two had no black bars, the other two had only partial barring. Three of the four were more yellow green colored, one with no stripes was red.
I've read that Peruvian Festae display more distinct bars, and that strains from Ecuador lack barring and might be more green. The upper photos are of my original RT's. Notice the distinct bars. The bottom pics are of my best growouts, both about 3". The one with no stripes, likely
male. The faint stripes on the other grow out is the best of the four. I think female. IMO same species, different strain. I've learned a lot about this magnificent fish over the past year and a half keeping them, but I'm no expert. I keep all six RT's in a hardscaped 120 gal. No fighting, no fatal encounters. Far less aggressive than their RIvulatus and Texas cichlid tankmates. I wish I could keep them all, but soon I'll be bringing at least two back to my LFS, my tank is not nearly large enough. I've read and heard all the horror stories regarding RT's and have no reason to doubt the validity of them. Just hasn't been my experience. Wondering if any members have more conclusive information regarding separate strains of Festae or just want to add useful information.
Five months ago I bought four more juvenile Red Terrors. Although obviously Festae, two had no black bars, the other two had only partial barring. Three of the four were more yellow green colored, one with no stripes was red.
I've read that Peruvian Festae display more distinct bars, and that strains from Ecuador lack barring and might be more green. The upper photos are of my original RT's. Notice the distinct bars. The bottom pics are of my best growouts, both about 3". The one with no stripes, likely
male. The faint stripes on the other grow out is the best of the four. I think female. IMO same species, different strain. I've learned a lot about this magnificent fish over the past year and a half keeping them, but I'm no expert. I keep all six RT's in a hardscaped 120 gal. No fighting, no fatal encounters. Far less aggressive than their RIvulatus and Texas cichlid tankmates. I wish I could keep them all, but soon I'll be bringing at least two back to my LFS, my tank is not nearly large enough. I've read and heard all the horror stories regarding RT's and have no reason to doubt the validity of them. Just hasn't been my experience. Wondering if any members have more conclusive information regarding separate strains of Festae or just want to add useful information.
