Rafflesia vs pigeon checkerboard

[daphne]

Hi,
I have a yellow rafflesia and a yellow pigeon checkerboard that I got when they were about 3-1/2”. While they looked different at that age, now that they are over 5” they are exactly identical, to the point that it’s hard to differentiate them. Not only their color and patterns are almost identical but their body shape is basically the same. Are they supposed to be the same kind of discus with a different name?
Thank you.
D

[seanyuki]

Discus with similar genetic make-up can have very different sales names.

[peewee1]

You purchased the fish at the same time from the same source? A well known breed told me recently that sometimes when breeders name a fish they just name it what it most looks like and then sell it as such.

[danotaylor]

I have always seen Raff's as checkerboards with incomplete pattern coverage...same with pandas...same genetics with a different name as Francis and Peewee mentioned...likely for the purpose of sales so that buyers don't comparing 1 to the other...tricks of the trade ;)

[daphne]

Thank you. They are both very beautiful... they both have complete pattern, so they both look like checkerboards now. Another thing I noticed with both, is that the edges of their bodies have turned darker and brighter, almost bright orange instead of yellow ( the center is yellow) with very pronounced white patterns throughout. They were both very pale yellow when they came. The rest of my discus are mostly reds (patterned pigeons, checkerboards, snake .... ), I am wondering if the yellows are trying to mimic the others with their color and patterns to blend within the group. Could it be possible?

[danotaylor]

If you use commercially prepared foods it's likely the color enhancers in the food you feed them...check the ingredients for astaxanthanin. It's a red enhancer and will turn yellow discus orange...

[Iminit]

All I can say is your just teasing us!! I can’t give any opinion without a picture :).

[peewee1]

All I can say is your just teasing us!! I can’t give any opinion without a picture :).

Says the lad who quite possibly owns the largest wall clock in America and whose beloved New York Jets continue to tease the football world with a possible winning game some time soon.

[peewee1]

If you use commercially prepared foods it's likely the color enhancers in the food you feed them...check the ingredients for astaxanthanin. It's a red enhancer and will turn yellow discus orange...

True. Color these days is subjective. I wonder if anyone truly knows what color their fish should be. By comparison and much to our delights female humans are prone to hair colors that are not that which is natural for them. I do have a yellow fish that I purposely feed red enhancers to and for now I have no idea what the natural yellow color would be. She is a bright yellow but is it her natural yellow.

[daphne]

Sure thing, the fist picture is the Rafflesia when it arrived 3 months ago, and the second picture is the Rafflesia (left) together with the Yellow Pigeon Checkerboard (right), taken this morning.
129747 129748

[peewee1]

The eyes turned red.

[Willie]

Pigeon Checkerboard = $
Rafflesia = $$$

[danotaylor]

Nice discus. You did a good job growing them up!

[Willie]

Most commercial dry foods containing Red Dye No. 6 and will do a good job of enhancing both coloration and patterns (which are just color differences). Accumulation of these dyes may also minimize any genetic differences between the two strains.

Sometimes there are no genetic differences at all. A breeder may pick out the best ones from one batch and give those fish a different name from the lesser grades of the same batch.