golden tetra, Hemigrammus rodwayi

**tcy81** · 3rd Dec 2009, 07:44

Hi all,

I am still looking for golden tetra, Hemigrammus rodwayi.
Please let me know if you saw it at LFS.
thanks

Regards,
Chee Yong

**Tristan** · 3rd Dec 2009, 09:51

biotope had when i was there a few days ago, you might wanna call to confirm though

**hwchoy** · 3rd Dec 2009, 15:55

you have to be aware that if you ask for Hemigrammus rodwayi you may get the normal (or REAL) version rather than the "golden" one.

**tcy81** · 3rd Dec 2009, 21:38

Originally Posted by hwchoy

you have to be aware that if you ask for Hemigrammus rodwayi you may get the normal (or REAL) version rather than the "golden" one.

em,the golden one is with another scientific name?

**hwchoy** · 3rd Dec 2009, 22:45

well since the "gold" is not a natural coloration it would actually not be correct to even label it "var. golden" or something similar. what I am trying to point out is that the trade understand what a "golden tetra" to be, and does not normally associate the latin name with those fishes with the golden sheen. so if you ask for it with the latin name, a professional outfit may actually send you those without the golden sheen

you do know why it has a golden colour, right?

**tcy81** · 4th Dec 2009, 23:54

Originally Posted by hwchoy

well since the "gold" is not a natural coloration it would actually not be correct to even label it "var. golden" or something similar. what I am trying to point out is that the trade understand what a "golden tetra" to be, and does not normally associate the latin name with those fishes with the golden sheen. so if you ask for it with the latin name, a professional outfit may actually send you those without the golden sheen

you do know why it has a golden colour, right?

Actually i not too sure why it has golden colour. haha

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2009, 02:20

hah! you can search AQ as it was explained before.

but basically the golden tetra (as well as those platinum versions of cardinals, neon, etc) has this metallic coloration due to guanine deposit on its skin. this is produced by the fish itself, believed to be a response to parasitic infestation. you can google about it.

hence, when you state the latin name, it would refer to the "normal" coloured fish. but since the gold colour is not a colour variation, but rather an external deposit, it would not be correct to give it a "var. golden" label.