Apistogramma Borelli Opal

[sterbai]

Hi!
Do some of you know Apistogramma borelli opal? I would be happy if some of you with knowlegde and/or experiencesc with borelli opal can deal this with me (origin, behaviour, environment (specifics)).

 

[tompoz]

Here you are: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Apistogramma&species=borellii&id=115

 

[Mike Wise]

The present Opal is just the more colorful specimens of A. borellii with red on the face. It is not a specific population or strain. Specimens like this are found in virtually every population in the wild. From what I understand, the original Opal was a domestic strain that originated in the 1960s in the former DDR (East Germany). This was a domestic strain that had reds, blues, yellows and greens on the face, body, and fins. With the fall of the Eastern Block, many then unavailable apistos entered eastern Europe. The Opal became an 'also ran', pushed out by new and more exciting species (similar to the A. wickleri domestic form of A. steindachneri and A. eunotus (Shahuayo/Pink Apisto) in the US). I doubt that the original Opal still exists; at least I haven't seen photos of any since the photo in Matsuzaka (1996).

 

[sterbai]

Opal


Thanks for your replies.
I have attached picture of my borellii opal male. It was breed in the tzech republic and bought in Oslo, Norway. It is not a good picture but it wasn't easy too cath this object.

 

[tompoz]

A friend of mine had imported WF Opals but only a few males made it through quarantine. It was a big disappointment as I have planned to get a harem from him.

 

[Mike Wise]

It looks like your Opal was bred for red on the face at the expense of loss of other colors. Maybe if you back-cross with a wild Opal (red-faced blue A. borellii) it would bring back some of the color to the body and fins.