Apisto Wilhelmi

[wm_crash]

So a while ago I managed to get a pair of Apisto wilhelmi. The fish are rather young, so sexing reliably is nothing to be expected. I shot a video of the two which came out better than pics. I am not sure I have a pair or two males. The photo with the single fish is what I'd like to be the female.

Any opinions on the sex of these fish is welcome.

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan

 

[dwarflover]

Thats a pair. I noticed the female turning onto her side infront of the male. Thats a courting behaviour. I see that about two or less days before eggs.

Nice fish, by the way! Where'd you get them?

 

[wm_crash]

Got them from cichlids.net. Jon said he only had this pair. I usually like to start with 3 pairs, but that's all there was.

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan

 

[Mike Wise]

Females of A. sp. Abacaxis - I dislike the name "Wilhelmi", it makes people think it's been scientifically described - which it has not - never show markings in the caudal fin. Males do.

 

[Loriculus]

I second Mike - two females !

 

[Mike Wise]

None of the pictures or the video are really good enough to be useful. My guess is that the fish with the dark mouth is most likely a male, however. Wm_crash needs to do the sexing from difference not really visible in the pics/video.

 

[Loriculus]

Anyway I find this species the most difficult Apisto to sex. When I got my four I could select them out of a group myself. Never been so unsure getting fish. If the males fins are not fully pointed yet, the dark through not developed (or does not show in a holding tank) it is really hard. I ended up with 1,3 instead of 2,2. And have no luck with the females. One dies with no reason. One vanished and the one breeding with the male produced 3 nests without any result. Now she looks unhealthy and I don't expect here to make it more then a few month longer. Such a shame ....

Male:
http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/reefsafe/media/Apistogramma/_MG_3451-1.jpg.html?sort=6&o=8

Female - short before laying:
http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/reefsafe/media/Apistogramma/_MG_3407.jpg.html?sort=4&o=5