Apistogramma viejita Double Red

[Reggie Leuty]

At the LFS there is an adult group @ 6 or 7 fish labled as Apistogramma viejita Double Red. It is to my understanding that A. viejita has not been imported into the USA for some 20 yrs ? So could these be cross of A. viejita x A. macmasteri ? Or maybe they are pure A. macmasteri ? These are adults so I would not think they are CB , I would think they are WILD. Has viejita been imported in small numbers in the last year or two ? I'm kindof confused ....

 

[merlin]

I thought fouble reds were tank bred specimens.

Derek

 

[Mike Wise]

As far as I know, only 1 male A. viejita has appeared in the trade (as a contaminant/by-catch) over the past 10 years. The fish you saw are either wild A. macmasteri Rotrücken/Red-shoulder or domestic red macmasteri. Both are commonly sold as 'A. viejita'. Without seeing the fish it would be hard to say which is true. BTW full grown domestic specimens are often sold commercially. These are usually former breeding stock that is past its prime and has been replaced by the breeder for younger stock.