Apistogramma Sp. Steel Blue

[ADC Nederland]

Hey!

Yesterday I received a trio Apistogramma Sp. Steel Blue. Even though it is a bred species / hybrid, It is still one of my favorite species.

They are still adjusting and the females can be a bit fiesty.

Day 1 - Oktober 24, 2014:

Day 3 - Oktober 26, 2014:

 

[Fikret Celik]

Indeed, a kind of hybrid, although very nice fish. Turkey is also very common, but also a kind of produced. Although these beautiful images, I am opposed to nutrition because they are hybrids. Do not misunderstand me, I congratulate you, very nice and attractive fish...

 

[chris1805]

They look great! can't wait to see them when they are completely adjust

 

[gerald]

The "females" can be especially feisty when they're not really females. Until they turn yellow it's difficult to be certain with steel-blues. Females are not common in shops, unless you can find some locally-bred fish that a hobbyist traded in. My guess is the commercial breeders use temperature or drugs to produce nearly all males.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The "females" can be especially feisty when they're not really females. Until they turn yellow it's difficult to be certain with steel-blues. Females are not common in shops, unless you can find some locally-bred fish that a hobbyist traded in. My guess is the commercial breeders use temperature or drugs to produce nearly all males.

I was just going to write the same, that I think your female may be a male. I'd look for black ventral fin edges and not much facial patterning on the females.

These a pair that used to belong to UK Apistogramma guru Ste Chesters.

cheers Darrel

 

[ADC Nederland]

The photos posted are from the first day so it's hard to see anything because they are still adjusting. I've had males and females before and I don't get my fish from a local shop. With Apisto's its always unclear what you have until they show bright yellow colors. Every species I've had so far also had males pretending to be females.

It's a frustrating issue sometimes... But hey... Gives me something to do

I'll try and get some more photos from the Steel Blues this week.

 

[ADC Nederland]

I have some new photos of the male.

 

[deliriouz]

Nice looking fish! For a probable hybrid, they look great and are easy to breed. They were my first apisto species and was what got me hooked on them. So I wouldn't go around knocking them.

Been breeding them up to 4 generations now and consistently more than 90% of the fry are males...breeding temp at 22-25deg. Might try one day to up the temp and see if I get more females but too busy now with other apisto species!