Cacatuoides?

[erik81]

So...I keep larger cichlids and don´t know much about Apistos a part from their good looks, but my kids wanted a pair of cacatuoides for their tanks, and I headed to the pet store today. They had cacatuoides and agassizii in the same tank...and they had no idea what was what. I could obv pick out the males , but I don´t know if I made a boo-boo on at least one of the females. I need the help of more knowledgable people here, is it a cacatuoides or an agassizii in the picture below?

 

[aquaticclarity]

That's a cacatuoides.

 

[erik81]

That's a cacatuoides.

Thank you so much, that´s what I thought too, but I got uncertain when I got home with it. And also, these fish are interesting to watch, just as fun as studying my salvini and dempseys, might have to set up an apisto tank myself now.

 

[erik81]

Another question though... What are the key things to look at when trying to determine whether it's cacatuoides or agassizii female?

 

[aquaticclarity]

A. agassizii females will have a more rounded tail shape (when compared to cacatuoides), no black stripes in the belly, and either no black spot showing on their side or possible one or two closer to round spots (all depending on mood and the individual fish). They could also show a thicker single black strip.

The biggest thing to look for is the belly stripping in cacatuoides that won't be there in agassizii. (But keep in mind there are plenty of other Apistogramma spp. that do have markings in the belly area.)

 

[erik81]

Much appreciated, thank you.