ID this apisto?

[Small Fry]

Hi All -

New to this forum and relatively new to keeping apistogrammas, but long-time aquarist. Recently saw this fish in an LFS labeled as A. agassizii. The rest of the tank was full of a. agassizii, but the clerk didn't know what it was or how it got in the shipment of the agassizii. He sold it to me for the same price, however. It's clearly a juvenile, but I'm not sure what it could be. Not quite an inch long. I have it in a community tank and it seems to be thriving. Any idea what it could be?

Thanks,

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I'm not very good at ID, but it looks to be in the Apistogramma resticulosa complex area. A."Steel-Blue" or A. "Wagenflecken"? @Mike Wise is your best bet for a definitive ID.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

I would say it is A. sp. Steel-Blue. Nice photo, BTW.

 

[Small Fry]

Darrel and Mike -

Thanks so much for this. I really appreciate the quick response! Not familiar with this species at all, but a quick google search confirms your ID, I think. Not sure what I'll do with him or how to find another, but he's a nice little fish.

Cheers,

Alan

 

[yukondog]

First welcome to the sight, and nice looking apisto.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Darrel and Mike -

Thanks so much for this. I really appreciate the quick response! Not familiar with this species at all, but a quick google search confirms your ID, I think. Not sure what I'll do with him or how to find another, but he's a nice little fish.

Cheers,

Alan

It is often difficult to find females. My guess is yours is a male based on the head patterning.

cheers Darrel

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Females and males usually look very similar when not in breeding dress. However yours does look male.
While females are still relatively rare they are more common not than they were in the past.