A. sp. "Papagalo"

[Olga]

My recent purchase - a pair of A. sp. "Papagalo". Is it the same as A. sp. "Papagei"? Do the fish in my photos match their name? Thank you for the answers

Male

Female

 

[Cichlid Junkie]

I dont know the answer to your questions, but what beautiful fish!

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, it probably is A. sp. Parrot/Papagei, but the dark markings are not visible enough to be absolutely certain. It might be A. sp. Pebas, but the yellow tail does not seem right. There are many different color popuations of Papagei & Pebas.

 

[Olga]

Thank you!

Yes, it probably is A. sp. Parrot/Papagei, but the dark markings are not visible enough to be absolutely certain.

What kind of black markings you talking about? Perhaps, I can look for them on the fish.

It might be A. sp. Pebas, but the yellow tail does not seem right. There are many different color popuations of Papagei & Pebas.

In the last edition of Linke & Staeck book picture of A. sp. Pebas is much more similar to my fish than pictures of A. sp. Papagei. What are the main characters that make these two species different?

 

[Richgrenfell]

after the beating I took in the Macmasteri thread, I think i'll keep quiet on the ID. however, those are beautiful fish!

Rich

 

[Mike Wise]

The feature that best separates A. sp. Pebas from A. sp. Parrot/Papagei is the shape of the caudal patch - the marking on the caudal peduncle that is formed from the caudal spot & part of Bar 7. On A. sp. Pebas this caudal patch forms a tear drop shape (with the tip of the drop pointing toward the head) that joins the lateral band. Some even have a patch that is separate from the lateral band. Females in brood dress have 4-5 lateral spots along the posterior half of the flanks formed from the lateral band. Abdominal stripes on males are usually invisible or very poorly marked.

A. sp. Papagei has a Bar 7 that is joined to the caudal spot by a narrow band. It forms an '∞' shape. Females in brood dress show only 2-3 lateral spots along the lateral band on the front half of the flanks (other than the caudal patch, of course). The abdominal stripes are usually more distinct and continuous.

The more I look at your photos, the more I believe that I was wrong with my original identification. Looking at your photos, I must say that your female looks like A. sp. Pebas, and Koslowski (2002) shows a male Pebas that looks much like your male except that his fish has an uncolored caudal fin and less distinct abdominal stripes (more broken stripes). The yellow colored tail is rare on Pebas, but common on Papagei. Color, however, is not a good diagnostic feature on most apistos. It can be quite variable. For now I woud guess that your fish is most likely a color population of A. sp. Pebas. I would need photos of the fish showing the lateral band & caudal patch (most commonly seen in fright pattern) to be absolutely certain. Adding to this is the possiblily that Pebas & Papagei might just be varieties of the same species. We don't have much scientific information on ranges of these 2 forms.

I will be speaking in Larvik, Norway in March. I know it is some distance from Umea, but if you have the opportunity to come, we could discuss this in more detail.

 

[Olga]

I would need photos of the fish showing the lateral band & caudal patch (most commonly seen in fright pattern) to be absolutely certain.

Mike, thanks a lot for those detailed descriptions. Hope, that this is a right picture for ID

I will be speaking in Larvik, Norway in March. I know it is some distance from Umea, but if you have the opportunity to come, we could discuss this in more detail.

Thank you for the invitation. I'm not sure if I could come, but it is really worth it to make all my best to come there.

 

[mervin]

awesome fish !!!
what we get here locally are not as colour intensive and normally have "split" ventral fins - to much in breeding ???

 

[Mike Wise]

Olga,

I am much more certain now that your fish are a beautiful color variant of A. sp. Pebas. To be absolutely certain, please send me the fish (live!).:wink:

Mervin,

There are many different color variants of this species. I have seen dull forms and forms almost as colorful as A. sp. Parrot/Papagei. If you look through enough wild-caught Pebas, you will eventually find the super colorful form.

 

[Mike Wise]

Originally Posted by Mike Wise I will be speaking in Larvik, Norway in March. I know it is some distance from Umea, but if you have the opportunity to come, we could discuss this in more detail.


Thank you for the invitation. I'm not sure if I could come, but it is really worth it to make all my best to come there.

Olga & others interested,

Check http://home.c2i.net/Cichlid-Power/ (Alf Stalsber's web site) for more information on my speaking schedule in Norway.

 

[Olga]

Mike, thank you very much for your help in identifying this species. It is very interesting with all new forms appearing now.

I hope to breed my A. sp. "Pebas", they spawned 2 days ago. This is the female with her eggs.

 

[Richgrenfell]

Olga,

what is that cave made of?

Rich

 

[Olga]

2 Richgrenfell

That was made from simple clay, that you can find in handicraft stores. I made plenty of these caves and apistogrammas just love them.

 

[Richgrenfell]

Thanks Olga. I am an assistant special ed.teacher, and when my students are in pottery, I sometimes make caves out of terra cotta clay as well. I've used them for all kinds of fish. Apistos, and ancistrus especially!

Rich

 

[depthc]

Thats neat rich. I've done clay ceramics in school a long time ago but I've never thought of making a cave. Of course that was a while back when caves werent anything of importance in the fish hobby for me. But thats a great idea. Do you think you can show us some pics of them. I just think thats sweet.

Andrew

 

[Richgrenfell]

i have some pics around someplace. I'll find em' and post for you.

Rich

 

[Olga]

The same female with her 6-days free swimming fry.

 

[patrick1]

dear Olga

these are very nice pictures! i want you to ask if i can use these beautiful pictures for my Netherlands website!
http://www.dwergcichlide.nl/

best regards Patrick de laat

 

[Olga]

Yes, Patrick, you can use my pictures of A. sp. Pebas on your site.

Olga.

 

[Apistt_ed]

congrats OLGA!!!

absolutely gorgeous pictures!! john