A Ortegai ID

[BrooklynTankster]

This is my first post and I have my first Apisto. I am seeing lots of situations where we may be purchasing a different apisto than what is being sold to us so I thought I would do an ID check. This was sold to me as a male Apisto Ortegai. Does everyone agree? Can you let me know how you can tell?

 

[Mike Wise]

It looks like A. cf. ortegai (Pebas), part of the paratype forms of A. ortegai, but genetically a different species. It was formerly called A. sp. Pebas. The true A. ortegai is much more colorful and shows a double caudal patch shaped more like an infinity symbol, where both patches are nearly the same size and shape. Your fish shows a wedge shaped caudal patch, where the posterior patch is larger than the patch in front of it. Females in brood dress are easy to separate. A. ortegai females show 2 spots on the flanks while A. cf. ortegai females show 4 - 5 spots.

 

[BrooklynTankster]

Mike, thanks so much for the detailed reply. I had very limited options at the store but I like him anyway. I am looking forward to learning much more about Apistos.

 

[Hellfishguy]

I noticed that the shop in Clifton NJ has A. ortegai on its current stock list - & A.kullanderi! They're usually pretty accurate when it comes to apistos, but your fish is definitely not an ortegai.

 

[BrooklynTankster]

Yes, that's definitely where I bought him. So far he is doing ok and I hope he colors up a bit.

 

[Hellfishguy]

Apistos do great in Brooklyn tap water. I've kept and bred many species without any problems. Your fish looks very much like A. sp. Steel Blue, which is usually sold as A. borellii, A. agassizii or "Neon Head".

 

[BrooklynTankster]

Thanks great to hear, thanks.

 

[Mike Wise]

Your fish is not A. sp. Steel Blue. Trust me, all of the characteristics point to a species in the ortegai-subcomplex.