apisto cacatuoides?

[Joe1968]

went to a lfs and purchased 3 apisto cacatuoides 1 orange flash and 2 reds (all females) the 2 reds have that black line running down there body but depending on there mood it turns into a dot and the other side its 2 dots. I have a few more females that i bought at another store and dont ever show those dots on there body. So are these 2 females apisto cacatuoides? new to the Apisto complex so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Chromedome]

The fish in your first photo, and nose down in the second photo, is male. Tail is starting to develop lyre points, and first dorsal rays can be seen as slightly elongated in the second shot. Probably a very young male, just starting to develop.

You are dealing with aquarium developed strains, so all these fish must be young as they are not yet showing much color. But so far as I can tell, yes, they are cacatuoides. The variable markings you describe are not unusual. I'm sure others will be along shortly with more information.

 

[Mike Wise]

Chromedome is right. They are domestic color strains of A. cacatuoides. With inbreeding (not necessarily a bad thing) variations in markings become more common.

 

[Joe1968]

Thanks guys for replying i really appreciate it
Joe