Holiday Conversation Topic

[aquaticclarity]

What are your favorite 3 Apistogramma sp.? (You do not have to have had them in your own tanks or even seen them in person.) If you want to explain why they are your favorites that would be great! But at least list your top 3 picks please.

 

[Mike Wise]

A. bitaeniata Rio Tigre; it's such a beautiful population of this species (my avitar) and not really hard to get breeding.
A. wickleri (domestic strain of A. steindachneri from the 60s & 70s); it was big (4"+/10cm+), beautiful (mostly blue and orange/red), really peaceful and easy to breed. Sadly it disappeared in the hobby once 'more exotic' species appeared. It was just too common.
A. eunotus (probably the same as the type form) Rio Shahuayo, the Pink Apisto; a big, deep-bodied/high-backed species with a pale salmon pink body and orange fins, and easy to breed. It met the same fate as A. wickleri. I've had collectors look for this fish several times over the past 10 years; hasn't been found.

 

[afra]

A. Cruzeiro, Mendezi and Paucisquamis

 

[aquaticclarity]

My 3 picks are a little more tame:

Apistogramma cacatuoides-I prefer the wild types (almost any of the locations and forms) because I like looking for that "special" fish in the group. But I also like A. cacatuoides in general because of how many people it has reached and brought into the world of Apistogramma.


Apistogramma borelli-Any of the forms will do but I really like the gold head form. I think this is the first Apistogramma I kept that readily spawned for me. This is back when it was a REALLY common export out of Brazil and dirt cheap.


Apistogramma barlowi-The red face or blue form is stunning and the white form is down right impressive with its massive size. The mouthbrooding trait just intrigues me to no end. I assume this fish won't stay in the Apistogramma genus and I could even see the red face and white forms being two different species.
(I have a better picture of a mature fish somewhere but can't find it right now!)

 

[dwarfpike]

A. agassizi - The forms like Alenquer that have that neat < tail pattern. I've always been more of a pattern over color person.

A. baenschi - Body shape very 'cichlidy' ... almost more of an acara shape. Plus great dorsal fins and the contrast of the blue body and red tail stripe.

A. miua - Awesome mix of pattern and color. Thanks to Mike for introducing this species to me at his GSAS talk. Beautiful species.