the photo looked different though, if you check the link I gave you. It had brown spots not black spots therefore it couldnt be a varied form of the trilineatus. Well this what I believe.
What your eyes perceive as brown spots vs. black spots can be caused by general health issues, stress, a fish that is not fully acclimated, type and intensity of lighting and the quality of the photography. Additionally,
C. trilineatus are one on the most variable species we encounter, so, giving them the name
C. julii is a very common mistake made by people who are only capable of taking the name that the exporter uses on their list and quoting it as gospel.
Additionally, using the term "couldn't be" is not useful in these type of discussions. I have learned that something "can be" whether we think so or not. These are esoteric discussions with plenty of room for error. I am in no way saying that one party is right and the other wrong. That will not be proven to anyone's satisfaction. One person's
C. trilineatus is another's
C. julii. We will never know for sure, but my "belief" is based on putting the two specimens side by side and basing my conclusion on what I see in front of me. Additionally, I always seek out the most knowledgeable people I know for their expert opinion, to refute or support my "guess.". Because they
are so knowledgeable, they will be the first to admit that they could be wrong by a mile. That's the mark of a true expert. Someone who can readily admit that they could be wrong.
With all of that being said, I feel that if you were to see a picture of a "true"
C. julii, you would agree that the specimen in my pic is not of that specie, but in reality a juvenile
C. trilineatus, as I have chosen to label it. I could be wrong, but I don't "believe" I am. My ID has been corroborated by an individual who's opinion I value, respect and trust above all others.
As in most of these discussions we will just have to agree to disagree. It is never my aim to be confrontational in these discussions. It is always my aim to attempt to share the knowledge of 50+ years of raising tropical fish, in an effort to help others become better informed hobbyist. It is always my hope that the information imparted, is received in the same spirit with which it was proffered. Sadly, that is not always the case.
Peace.
Frank