Apistogramma Macmasteri (Viejita Red Neck) please help confirm sex

[Konigwolf]

I picked up 4 fish today that I had been waiting to come in for some time. They were on the suppliers list a A. viejita (Red Neck) which after a little research I knew should be macmasteri when I confirmed the order.

Here they are
The first is the dominant fish, fairly sure its male

Next is what seems like the dominant female

Third fish seems to be a sub dominant female (top fish in first shot) Also appears to have a slight skinny abdomen guessing she(?) should be ok after some conditioning.

Forth fish is my biggest question. Smallest by a fair amount. No idea. (yes has a slightly munched tail)

Thanks for any help

Andrew.

 

[bseitz234]

I agree on the first three (male female female), and to my untrained eye, the last one looks like a young male...

 

[Linus_Cello]

Can you tell us more about your tank background? Did you make it yourself or did you buy it from somewhere?

 

[Konigwolf]

bseitz, I was thinking male as well due to the rich colour for its size, but with all the yellow around the chest it made me think female. So still confused, glad to know the other three are probably correct though.

Linus its just a store bought "background on a roll". I do have a 3' tank with a similar looking background that's actually made from foam.

 

[bseitz234]

Like I said, inexperienced- I've never kept this species- but I've seen pictures of male macmasteri with a yellowish cast, but I don't think I've ever seen a female with red on her head, let alone one so small...

 

[Linus_Cello]

Really, just a 2-D roll? It looks pretty 3-D. What's the brand made from foam?

 

[Konigwolf]

@bseitz, macmasteri are a species I am unfamiliar with as well. Getting Apistogramma in Australia isn't easy, getting them in Tasmania is MUCH harder. Since they are all in a 2x1' tank at the moment I think I will separate the smallest fish, either way male or female a 2x1 isn't big enough for really for that many fish. It was just temporary until I figured out what I had.

@ Linus, yes really just a 2D roll As for the 3D version I have included a picture of it. It was a home made one for the tank its in which is in the slow process of becoming a paludarium. Bought the tank 2nd hand so while I don't know the exact method used for this one I have friend who makes them so I have a good idea of how it probably went. PS please excuse the cloudiness I had just redone the substrate (It originally had sand but I decided to put down soil under it for better plant growth)

.

Andrew

 

[Kruz]

Kool tank bro your Apisto got some nice color.

 

[Guille]

The male seems like ap. Viejita, isn't it?

 

[dw1305]

The male seems like ap. Viejita, isn't it?

No, all the fish sold as A. viejita are red domestic forms of A. macmasteri. <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/viejita.13336/#post-72242> & <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/i...mma-macmasteri-or-a-viejita.13131/#post-71048>

cheers Darrel

 

[Linus_Cello]

I like how the tank is rimless. You bought it like that? Do you know what brand it is?
Also, how much evaporation do you get? Do you have to refill the tank about 0.5 liter every day?

 

[Guille]

Interesting. I bought a pair of supposed czech A. viejita one month ago. Now I have doubts. Here is the foto

Could you link a photo from a true a. viejita?

Sorry about my English, i'm from Barcelona

 

[regani]

some pictures of the true viejita can be found here http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=46716

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Have a look here, where it explains as Regani suggests, that the only true A. viejita photos are the Koslowski DATZ ones from Fishbase. <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/i...import-apistogramma-viejita.12229/#post-66894>

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

the only true A. viejita photos are the Koslowski DATZ ones from Fishbase. <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/i...import-apistogramma-viejita.12229/#post-66894>

The DATZ (Koslowski) photos show the true A. viejita, but the JJPhoto is a domestic form of A. macmasteri.