Apistogramma ID?

[Burhan]

Hello,

Bought two fishes as Hongsloi, they were supposed to be a pair, swimming together in a tank. However, I have a feeling that the male is Macmasteri Red Mask. I dont know about the "female" and she is kinda hard to get a good picture of. But I will post a few images down below. Ive talked to the shop and told them that I will probably come back with the smaller one, but want to confirm with you guys first. Ive only kept bigger cichlids before, so my knowledge when it comes to apistos are not that great.

Picture 1 and 3 is the same fish. 2 and 4 is the same fish. I uploaded them in correct order but they got mixed..
If possible, I would also like to know the sex of the smaller fish.

 

[MacZ]

2 and 3 don't work, but it's enough to say they are A. macmasteri and m/f.

 

[Burhan]

2 and 3 don't work, but it's enough to say they are A. macmasteri and m/f.

Thank you MacZ! I really hope it is, I would be so happy if I dont have to return the little one. Because Ive gotten a lot of unsure answers for this fish. Ive also got two answers saying Hongsloi for it. Just to be sure, I will upload to more pictures.

 

[MacZ]

Thank you MacZ! I really hope it is, I would be so happy if I dont have to return the little one. Because Ive gotten a lot of unsure answers for this fish. Ive also got two answers saying Hongsloi for it. Just to be sure, I will upload to more pictures.

I take back what I said about the female and say A. hongsloi as well. The picture in the first post that worked had a bad angle. Now with the other pictures I have to correct myself.

 

[Burhan]

I take back what I said about the female and say A. hongsloi as well. The picture in the first post that worked had a bad angle. Now with the other pictures I have to correct myself.

Okey, thank you! Then Im sure of it now He/she will go back to the store tomorrow.

 

[Frank Hättich]

He/she will go back to the store tomorrow.

If you try to exchange it for a macmasteri female in the shop you got them, look for any red in the area of the caudal spot and the lower body. If there is any red, choose a different fish.

 

[anewbie]

2 and 3 don't work, but it's enough to say they are A. macmasteri and m/f.

If you click on 2 and 3 it will display them; it is a size thing the small pictures show up in line the large one you have to click on.

 

[Burhan]

If you try to exchange it for a macmasteri female in the shop you got them, look for any red in the area of the caudal spot and the lower body. If there is any red, choose a different fish.

View attachment 11029

Thank you Frank, you was actually the first one to say that the smaller one is Hongsloi in the Apistogramma facebook group. The store doesnt have any Macmasteri right now. Someone else told me to return both and buy 4-5 younger ones and let them pair off themselves. Do you agree? He said its almost impossible to find a partner for my Macmasteri :/

 

[Frank Hättich]

Someone else told me to return both and buy 4-5 younger ones and let them pair off themselves. Do you agree? He said its almost impossible to find a partner for my Macmasteri :/

Depends on what you want. If you want macmasteri, it's no problem to keep your male alone until you eventually get a female. If you are ok with hongsloi too, I would exchange the macmasteri male for a group of hongsloi (depending on the size of your tank).

 

[Burhan]

Depends on what you want. If you want macmasteri, it's no problem to keep your male alone until you eventually get a female. If you are ok with hongsloi too, I would exchange the macmasteri male for a group of hongsloi (depending on the size of your tank).

I really like this male and think he has potential to be even more beautiful. But people say I cant pair him off with other females, they say its to late. If I could, I would like to keep him and buy 2-3 Macmasteri to put in with him and see if he will pair with any of them.
My tank is 120l, but the foot print is 60x40cm. I have driftwood, caves, catappa leaves and plants. So hiding shouldnt be a problem.

 

[Frank Hättich]

I really like this male and think he has potential to be even more beautiful. But people say I cant pair him off with other females, they say its to late. If I could, I would like to keep him and buy 2-3 Macmasteri to put in with him and see if he will pair with any of them.
My tank is 120l, but the foot print is 60x40cm. I have driftwood, caves, catappa leaves and plants. So hiding shouldnt be a problem.

As I said, it's no problem to keep him alone and add a female later. With a footprint of 60x40cm I would however only add a single female,

 

[Burhan]

As I said, it's no problem to keep him alone and add a female later. With a footprint of 60x40cm I would however only add a single female,

Okey, I will try to convince the store to order a female. Thank you

 

[Mike Wise]

Something useful to know, don't add another apisto to a tank with an apisto that has lived in it for some time and considers it all to be its territory. When ready to add a female, remove the male, rearrange the tank decor and then add both at the same time. In this way the male has lost its territory and allows both to establish their own.