Identification help

[Niph]

Please help me identify this apisto spec.

There are 2 photos of the same male.

It was suposed to be A. viejita (according to shopkeeper words).

 

[Mike Wise]

Any photos of the female?

 

[Niph]

Sure, but poor in quality.
She doesn't really like camera, and prefers to explore leaves (or chasing Corydoras).

 

[Mike Wise]

The female shows no spots along the base of the dorsal fin, so it probably isn't a macmasteri-complex species (like A. viejita). The male shows a broad lateral band composed of light colored scales with dark edges (lattice-like), which is more commonly seen on species of the hongsloi-complex. Very odd. Do you have any more information about these fish? Like domestic/wildcaught, country of origin, body size? Right now I'm leaning toward an unusual form from the eunotus-complex, but I would need to see the dark markings (especially the vertical bars) to make a good identification.

 

[Niph]

It's domestic fish, and it is all I know about them, they are small now (I think so). Male is abt 5cm TL, female is abt 3,5-4cm TL.

Previous photos was taken on tap water (pH ~7,5, hardness abt 15 dH), now its half RO water and half tap with addition of alot of leaves.
Apistos are much darker for now.

Here are some photos of male with visible bars ( https://picasaweb.google.com/101135710479423956515/Apisto?authkey=Gv1sRgCLq0seiE5q3HqgE# )

 

[Tom C]

.....Here are some photos of male with visible bars ( https://picasaweb.google.com/101135710479423956515/Apisto?authkey=Gv1sRgCLq0seiE5q3HqgE# )

I'm sorry, but following this link only gives me "500 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR Unable to process request."
Could you please change the link, or show the pictures in another way?
(This seems to be a very strange fish, so I'm very curious to see the new pictures!)

 

[Niph]

 

[Mike Wise]

The second photo shows a split in Bar 5, consistent with most eunotus-subcomplex species. The lateral band is atypical for eunotus forms, however. I can't say that I've ever seen any fish like this one before.

 

[Tom C]

An interesting fish!
As it is domestic; Do you think it could be a hybrid, Mike? (Apistogramma sp. Maceunosloi?)

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, Tom, it's very possible. Being domestic bred fish, a cross between closely related species is possible when the fish do not have a mate of the same species. In such cases, it's 'any port in a storm'!

 

[Niph]

I have been watching female for some time, she is changing colors like cameleon.
From time to time she is developing dark bars on anal and ventral fins.

How should I name this species/hybrid? A. sp. Maceunosloi? (google doesn't even know Maceunosloi word... )
Should I try to breed those?

 

[Mike Wise]

No! No name for now, until we can identify the fish. Tom used the name in a humorous manner: macmasteri/eunotus/hongsloi because it has characteristics of these 3 species. I have a list of 600+ names for apistos, most are duplicates and not commonly used. We do not need any more like this! Until then call it "Apistogramma sp."

Yes, try to breed the fish. Female brood dress can be useful for identification.

 

[Niph]

Yeah, I figured out this name after posting here, but was thinking that is was serious

What water should I provide for them? 0 degrees hardness?

 

[Mike Wise]

My guess, being a possible hybrid or member of the macmasteri-group, is that slightly acid, moderately soft water should work; nothing really extreme.

 

[Niph]

Yday mine corys has gone crazy and spawned (without water change, also there was no air preasure change).
And I think apisto probably spawned too - female is now yellow, she spends most time in coconut hidden below some leaves.

Here are some photos of them:

 

[Niph]

Here are some photos of female with fry.
Is it possible to make identyfication now?