Flag Fish

[crocodylus]

Do they go by the name American Flag Fish or Florida Flag Fish? or are they different species? How can you difference the sexes?

[Guttboy]

The scientific name is Jordanella floridae...pretty sure they go by either florida or american flag fish. I have both a male and a female...the female has significant eye on the side of the body and the male looks more like the American flag..stretching it a bit on that one. Hope that helps ya out!

Mike

[Braveheart]

Yes same fish. Ive heard them called both Florida and American.

Good description on sexing, only other thing I would add, is that males tend to have more red flecking to their bodies than the females do.

[Guttboy]

Thanks Bravehart...yeah the male tends to have more reddish orange to them

[crocodylus]

are they beligerant? agressive? good community tank mate for mollies, guppies?

[Guttboy]

You might want to try doing a search for them on yahoo or something but from my experience they are the most benign fish in the tank. They hang out under my riccia/glosso matt that floats at the top and also cruise all levels...they dont bug my tetras, white clouds, rams etc...very very nice fish and very cool to watch them tear into the algae. I HIGHLY recommend them!

Mike

[2la]

Mike, you should preface that by saying that you're keeping them in a 100-gallon tank. A lot of experienced people recommended keeping only females in smaller tanks because males can be rough on tankmates.

[Guttboy]

Good point....They are kept in a heavily planted 100 gallon tank. I dont know how they will act in a small tank.

Mike

[digger]

I prefer to refer to them as American-flag fish because their coloring resembles the American flag with red and white hoizontal stripes. The Florida Flag is white with a red 'X'.

[aquaverde]

For the semi-pedantic, they are American-Flag Fish. Considering the latin name and where they come from, it's not hard to figure how they became known as FFFs. But as digger already stated, they resemble the American flag, not the Florida flag. As with all common names, they will end up being called whatever it is people call them, much to the consternation of those who desire a reliable method of communication.

I think as a hobby becomes more popular and requires less knowledge to be successful, there will be less "education", at least less depth of education at large. Also, the insistence on the part of the scientific community to rename everything with a classification system based on a dead language that is both difficult to spell and ridiculous to pronounce exacerbates the problem. Just my opinion, of course.

My pair of J. floridae ( ) are in a particularly small 20g. They have occasionally nipped at other fish, but it does happen. I just have seen it so rarely that I'm not sure what it is they are piqued about- most likely food, as they don't claim territory so far. The biggest problem is the male harassing the female. He throws her in the Java moss every so often, or spends the time chasing her around the tank.

James

[Wasserpest]

Originally Posted by aquaverde

Also, the insistence on the part of the scientific community to rename everything with a classification system based on a dead language that is both difficult to spell and ridiculous to pronounce exacerbates the problem. Just my opinion, of course.
James

I disagree... While you and others discuss if these should be American or Florida Flag Fish or Big Finned Algae Eating Whatever, the rest of the world knows them as Jordanella floridae, and there is no ambiguity about that. Difficult to spell and ridiculous to pronounce? Your opinion... but think about the majority of non-english-speaking ppl in this world...
Latin is a dead language alright... so everyone has to learn something. I think it's a great concept... Just my opinion, of course

[Guttboy]

That is why when I ask for a fish from the LFS or elsewhere I ask for the Scientific name. I was a biology major in college so I am used to it...I think in these forums we can use BOTH methods (common name --->what people may see at WalMart and LFS////and scientific name--->you might see that in both places as well :lol: )

Mike

[2la]

Originally Posted by aquaverde

Also, the insistence on the part of the scientific community to rename everything with a classification system based on a dead language that is both difficult to spell and ridiculous to pronounce exacerbates the problem.

James, are you referring to some new classification system? Has something fundamental changed recently from the way Linnaeus started it back in the 18th century? Or are you just saying IYO it was a poor system to begin with (and nothing's actually changed)? Just wanting a little clarification. Besides, as a former biology major it would look terrible if I'd missed the train on a new taxonomic system! :shock:

FWIW, I think you might stand being just a little more sympathetic to the scientific community of yore--finding a universal language that the world can agree upon is difficult enough; finding one that caters to ALL people is impossible, I think. For example, where's the common ground for English speakers and Mandarin speakers? In light of that, I think us English speakers have got it pretty darned good: At least we get to use our alphabet!

[Guttboy]

LOL 2la!

And AMEN! I agree wholeheartedly.....the classification system we have is pretty good if you ask me but thats the Bio Major coming out!...LOL

Mike

[aquaverde]

Very well, consider me soundly thrashed for taking potshots at the scientific community. The taxonomic system is logical and efficacious once it’s learned, and I abandon my indefensible complaint. So there. Apologies for being biology majors not accepted and not necessary. In the scientific disciplines involved with it, the system is very successful. I don’t mean perfect, but certainly the idea is so fitting that someone would have had to come up with it.

But still, I have a point. IME the retail end is not on board, and the largest part of patrons of the aquarium hobby must not be on board. When I use Latin names in the LFS, I get the deer-caught-in-the-headlights blank stare (pronunciation, probably ), or “Had that cold long, have you?”. Wasserpest is right- there is some learning involved. But I don't agree everyone else in the world knows them by the taxonomy- although they could. A proprietor that’s been in the business 30 years won’t use the names- not willing to put in the effort, perhaps? In practice, I can’t get a cup of coffee for a couple of quarters using Latin names. Frustrating. Crossocheilus siamensis by any other name doesn’t smell as sweet.

But my experience in the local stores might be idiosyncratic. I hope it is. Mike, (or anyone) how much success do you have communicating with the scientific name in the vanilla LFS?

James