Apisto ID and sexing

[emiloghin]

Firstly, hello all,

Just bought 2 Apistos yesterday at the LFS.
They only had 4 of what they labeled A. viejita. I highly doubt that's the case considering what i read, that they are pretty rare in the hobby.

I spent some time to observe the fish, since they said they're probably 4 males, and due to teritorial aggression they needed to separate one of them.

It seemed to me that the one they separated it's not a male, but a female because of the difference in shade (yellow, the rest being colorful, but on a pearl white background) and also the anal fin (hers? is pointy, the others have it rounded).

I'll attach some pictures. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Cheers!

S.E.

 

[MacZ]

Definitley not A. viejita proper, the one in the first picture is undoubtedly a domestic A. macmasteri, the second fish is hard to tell from the pictures.

 

[emiloghin]

Definitley not A. viejita proper, the one in the first picture is undoubtedly a domestic A. macmasteri, the second fish is hard to tell from the pictures.

I'll try to get him closer. Thanks!

 

[emiloghin]

Uploaded some new pictures of what i think is the female.
I made a video too:

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[MacZ]

Sorry, I'll have to pass. It shows some resemblance to A. cf. hongsloi, which might as well be A. viejita attributes, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Frank Hättich]

Let's say it this way: nothing in your photos/video speaks against your second fish being a domestic strain of A. macmasteri too. These can be difficult to sex, but if I had to make a guess, I would say that the smaller one is a male too.

 

[emiloghin]

I got more clear pictures. It looks like the bigger one's markings got more visible. Smaller one has red on the face (first photo, more sand in the pic). Thanks for your replies

 

[Frank Hättich]

I'm really not sure about the sex of the smaller one, might also be female...

 

[emiloghin]

Almost a year has passed, they look like a male - female pair, other than frequent chasing and dancing they never laid eggs. Do you guys have a clearer picture of the species and sex with these new pictures? @Frank Hättich @MacZ ?
Thanks

 

[Frank Hättich]

They are a pair of A. macmasteri.

 

[MacZ]

They are a pair of A. macmasteri.

Agreed. Adding "domestic".

 

[emiloghin]

Wow, thanks for the promptitude! Any advice on how to get them to spawn?
My now-defunct Ramirezi pair laid at least 10 times in their lifetime. All the parameters are stable with a steady ph of 6.7, i simulate blackwater with tropica querex, rooibos tea and alder cones + catappa leaves.
The only other fish larger than the pair is a SAE, the rest of the community consists of 10 ember tetra, 6 chili rasbora, 5 corydoras some amano shrimp and snails. The tank capacity is 120l, well planted.
Below is an older photo of the tank, now the plant mass is a little bit denser.

 

[MacZ]

The only other fish larger than the pair is a SAE, the rest of the community consists of 10 ember tetra, 6 chili rasbora, 5 corydoras some amano shrimp and snails.

I quote Mike: A community/display tank is not a breeding tank. You want them to spawn successfully, move them to their own tank.

 

[emiloghin]

Fair enough, I was expecting that answer thank all of you for the help.