Help ID'ing Please

[Konigwolf]

I purchased these fish awhile ago the first pair about 3 months ago, the last about 6 months (and was my first apisto). The first pair were sold as A. Steindachneri but unless I ended up with 2 females (I doubt) the male hasn't developed the lyrette tail. The third fish was sold to me as a borellii but has not developed either opel or yellowhead colouration, images attached below...

Steindachneri 1?

Steindachneri 1?

Borellii? in front, Steindachneri 2? behind

I've gone through my books and internet but cant pin it on a single species, all help apprieciated

Andrew

 

[KenL]

None of those fish look like steindachneri or borellii. The first pic could be a. sp "bluehead"

This is what steindachneri are like:
male

female in brood colours

 

[Mike Wise]

KenL is correct. The first 2 photos show A. sp. Bluehead/Steel-blue, probably a hybrid of 2 different species. Females are exceptionally rare. The third photo is not distinctive enough for me to be sure, but it certainly is not A. borellii! It might be A. sp. Wangenflecken/Cheek-spots. I will need a better photo to be sure.

 

[Konigwolf]

Thanks for the help guys, these pics are a bit better I hope, all of the one fish, the one being "Borellii"

Nice head profile

2 & 3 much the same

4 nice head close-up and sideish profile

Andrew

 

[KenL]

Definitely not borellii.

borellii males must be about the easiest apisto to identify as nothing else looks like them at all really.

This is a pic of my friends "opal" version from a few years back

Note the high dorsal fin, long extension to dorsal & anal fins, also the males never display the lateral band.

 

[Mike Wise]

I still say it probably is A. sp. Wangenflecken/Cheek-spots. None of your photos show diagnostic dark markings like vertical bars and abdominal streaks. These are more commonly seen on frightened fish. Other colors on most apisto species are variable & therefore not diagonstic.

 

[Konigwolf]

Thanks for the help guys, now I know where I stand with them

Andrew

 

[Rolo]

Hi,

I'm not sure about the identifcation as A. sp. "Wangenflecken".
The lateral band seems to be wider, as I never saw at my A.sp. "Wangenflecken" and the caudal spot looks different.
All in all it looks similar but different to mine.

But I'm not sure, what else it could be... surely a resticulosa or taeniata related species.

regards,
Rolo