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Apisto ID...Help

dcook

New Member
5 Year Member
Messages
6
I bought some wild fish at '09 ACA imported as "A. atahualpa" they do not look like any photos of atahuapla I've seen.They have spawned and I hesitate turning them in for BAP pts. In Datz book the M & F look like A.52 sp.masken or in that group. I was hoping someone here may have purchased these fish also to help/correct me on ID . I do not have digital camera. Female has 5 lateral spots(6counting peduncle spot) 5 spots on dorsal base while guarding. M has red & blue " worm markings" in face, horz. line thru eye and faint vert. bars in body(4), very pronounced peduncle spot, leading edge of ventals blueish. Hate to make them pike food. Thanks.
Dave Cook
 

Sharpfish

Member
5 Year Member
Messages
87
Location
Carnegie, Pa 15106
That description does not sound like A. atahuapla. If you got them at ACA the bag should have had a seller's name and phone number on the tag it is required. Hopefully, you saved that information somewhere. At least you could contact them to verify the species. I always keep those things especially when picking fry at auctions, just for such an occasion. They could have mislabeled bag, I would hope unintentionally. A picture would help. I would not feed them off just yet!
 

dcook

New Member
5 Year Member
Messages
6
Apisto ID

I spoke to gentleman who imported the fish. He told me the fish were invoiced as A. atahuapas so he sold them as such. I may be one confused, but I thought Atahuapa had a head shape like Cacatuoides these seem more like Regani group in head shape. I had hoped someone else may have purchased the fish at ACA and could set me straight. I hate to pass along F1 fish as "unsures". Fish did come from Peru, but importer had no location.
Dave Cook
 

jose_vogel

Member
5 Year Member
Messages
317
Location
Argentina
Sometimes it´s difficult to id a fish with a photo, imagine without any photos!!!

Few questions:
Any marks on caudal fin?
What´s the shape of the peduncle spot?
Any colour in the union of the ventral fins with the body?
 

dcook

New Member
5 Year Member
Messages
6
Apisto ID?

I've looked in all my books and the fish seems to match up in only one publication I own. In DATZ SA Dwarf Cichlids the fish I have matches up about perfect(M & F) to A. 52. I hesitate to refer to fish as mentioned because am not scientist or expert. I've BAP'ed about 10 Apisto species and not really sure what to do with this one. It's a nice fish just not what I was looking for.
Dave Cook
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,201
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Dave, your ID as A. sp. Masken/Masked is probably correct. Look at the caudal spot. If it is tall and narrow, then you almost certainly have Masken. Masken is commonly imported (under the commercial name "Apache") from Peru and is found in the same general area as A. atahualpa.
 

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