Apisto. atahualpa

[JeffDG]

I was very fortunate to have recieved 10 juvenile atahualpa yesterday at my first visit to the local fish club. Ive got them in a 55 with some driftwood, caves, and plants with sand as my substrate. Im hoping to keep all 10 until they are easily sexed, and then keep two groups of 1.2 or 1.3.

Ive found the search feature currently broken but have started scouring the past pages looking for as much firsthand experience and info as I can find. Is there anyone here still working with this species?

Here are two of my favorites so far.

My ISO was out of wack, I apologize for the grain. Looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks about the "sunsets".

 

[Ruki]

You don't have Apistogramma atahualpa. You have species close to Apistogramma eunotus.

 

[Mike Wise]

Lukasz is correct in that these are not A. atahualpa. They look like young A. sp. Masken to me, based on the shape of the caudal spot and pattern on the tail. Males will (usually) develop a good amount of red on the face as they age.

 

[JeffDG]

Well I can not say im disappointed. Im still very happy to have a different species of apisto at home. Any way to definitively determine which species?

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes; more photos when they mature ... or you could send them to me to examine more closely!:biggrin:

 

[Ruki]

Mine Masken didn't have yellow, but they were tank breed for some generations.

 

[JeffDG]

I posted on my local boards in hopes of the fellow who produced them would chime in so we could figure out what we had. The President of our club who ran our auction said, "They are definantly not eunotus, the adult trio he also sold looked like atahaulpa. I've imported almost all the wild Peruvian species many times.".

However, another guy from the board of directors replied with, "If Mike told you that they are A. sp. Masken, believe me, they are (although you might want to post pics again when they are a bit older to make sure). I always refer to him when I have ID problems with apistos, and we've had many apistos species that were not identified properly in the club in the past few years.".

Here are some more pictures from today.

These fish are just under 2 inches at the moment.

 

[Mike Wise]

Based on the photos that I've seen so far, I still think that they are A. sp. Masken. The pattern on the caudal fin and the bar-like caudal spot are very diagonostic. I don't look at body colors on most apistos because they can vary. Your fish look more like the A. sp. Masken form that Römer calls "A. sp. Peru-Regani" in CA2; same fish, just less colorful. If you're still uncertain, I suggest you try again, but include as much information as possible that is listed in the sticky in the ID section "I.D. Question Check List"

 

[JeffDG]

Thank you Mike,

I honestly did not realize how complex apistogramma was up until bringing these guys home. The only species I had ever seen in person were cacatuiodes and steely blue. I am really looking forward to watching everyone mature. Hopefully I can track down a copy of the Atlas sometime in the future.

I need to familiarize myself with the different complexes and variations in body shape and structure. I have alot of learning ahead of me.

 

[Mike Wise]

Well, I do have a rough draft of an article (over 30 pages!) that I titled "The Art of Apisto ID". The only sticking point that I now have is the figures (that and how to produce it). I'm terrible at drawing. It takes forever to produce a drawing and then it doesn't look that great.

 

[JeffDG]

Cant wait to read it... I cant draw worth anything either.

 

[JeffDG]

Two club members have posted pictures of their "atahualpa". The first group are supposed to be related to mine. Still being told they are atahualpa. Any further input?

http://www.atlantaaquarium.com/showthread.php?3416-Question-regarding-A.-atahualpa-I-purchased-at-Sundays-auction/page2

 

[ste12000]

The fish are definately sp.masken and not A.atahualpa.. Im currently breeding atahualpa and they are totally different, heres pics of genuine Apistogramma atahualpa. Tell Apisto Jim who you bought them from that he is completely wrong with his identification. Maybe direct him to this forum/thread??

Female Apistogramma atahulapa.

Male Apistogramma atahualpa.

 

[JeffDG]

The main difference I see in the two species would be the thicker and rounder tail marking on the atahualpa as well as the extensions on the dorsal fin. The more I looked at the pictures they posted the more I swore they looked like masken.

 

[Ruki]

Apisto Jim's Apistogramma looks like mine german-breed A. sp. "Masken".
They could only swim near atahualpa. :wink: