Confused Apisto species

[angel_saza]

I got three new fish today. They were ordered from the supplier as A. agassizi double reds, but they all look completely different compared to my original agassizi.

One is quite plain with no colour and a black lateral band, whom i am assuming is a female. Another one's tail has a red edge, but is showing a blue tinge on the body and a pale patch of yellow on the end of the dorsal fin. The last is similar, but has black caudal fins, which extends onto its body. He kind of reminds me of a panda. I'm assuming these last two are males. I though they'd have the brains to see 3 of the same species ordered and give me 2 females and 1 male.

On the left is my suspected female, in the middle is the blue male and on the right is 'panda'.

On the left is the female, in the middle is 'panda' and on the right in the blue male.


Another forum has suggested that i have a A. panduro pair and a female A. cacatuoides... i reckon they're right with the panduros. Stupid fish wholesaler. It's funny because they're one of the largest in Australia. You'd expect them to know their fish!!


I have just discovered this forum and i'm quite excited as i'm just getting into these awsome little fish!!

 

[ed seeley]

I think you've a male and female Panduro along with a female of another species. To be honest I'm not totally sure what that one is from the pic you posted but it looks a little elongated to be a cac to me and I think it might be an agasizzi. If you have any clearer pics of her then that would help.

 

[angel_saza]

This is the only other photo i got of her in the fish bag before i let her out. She's found a really good hiding place in my tank because i can't see her anywhere at the moment.

If she is an agassizi, hopefully i won't get too many problems having a pair each of panduro and agassizi.

 

[Mike Wise]

I agree with Ed - a pair of A. panduro and another female. She might be either A. agassizii or A. bitaeniata, but I can't say for certain from the pictures.

 

[angel_saza]

Thanks Mike, i'll give the mystery female some time to mature and then we may know what she is. She's probably an agassizi, as that is what she was ordered as. Although, i can't see how anybody can get confused between panduros and agassizis

 

[Mike Wise]

My guess is that your supplier got in some wild A. panduro. Wild fish shipments often have some odd contaminants. I wouldn't be surprised if aggies, bitaeniatas and other species got mixed in. A netter at the the supplier probably saw the red on the panduro tails and mistook them for red aggies.

 

[Hudson Ensz]

Nice!!! To me the "female" looks like a bitaeniata and if i may venture to say, POSSIBLY a male. I have had males just like that, color up beautifully in a matter of weeks. What size is it?

 

[bigbird]

Hello and good morning,

I have some Bitaeniata 1M 2F and agree with Hudson, but need a clearer pic out of the bag.
cheers jk :biggrin:

 

[angel_saza]

Not sure where the mystery fish has got too... i cant seem to see it in my tank. I'll give it a few days to settle in and if it hasnt come out by then i'll have to investigate. If it's died, then they'll be no trace because i'm sure my 3 bristlenose cats and 2 whiptails would clean it up in no time.
They're all about 3-4cm long.

 

[Rolo]

Hi,

I agree with Hudson, too.
I'm pretty sure, that it is A. bitaeniata, but pretty unsure, that "she" is a female. Could also be a young male.

regards,
Rolo

 

[Hassles]

For What Its Worth

At the moment both the wild caught A.panduro and the A.bitaeniata are available here (Australia) which may lend some weight to the suggestions offered below. I expect both to be at my LFS tomorrow. European bred A.trifasciata is among others currently available along with German bred borellii (Opal)

 

[angel_saza]

Do you know which supplier it is?