Juvenile Tiger Barb coloring

[Nokinja]

Hey everyone,

I've recently stocked my tank with 15 juvenile Tiger Barbs (appx 1.5 cm long, standard coloring) and have a question about some spots a couple of them have.

3-4 of them have a dark spot on either side between their normal black bands. The spots are the same color as the bands. Will these spots disappear as they mature, or are they a product of poor breeding?

Either way, I don't mind as I love the fish for what they are but i'm curious as the LFS guy says they will disappear and I (like many others) can be hesitant to take their word as law.

Thanks.

 

[875mill]

I have some tigerbarbs with the same markings you describe. I've had my barbs for five years now and the spots are still there.

 

[src]

I've seen a lot of variations on Tiger Barb markings lately. I think that there are enough genetic variants, especially interbreeds with Green Tigers, that you can't count on those marks going away.