Is this Apistogramma Macmasteri?

[Hutchy1998]

I have just bought a pair of Apistogramma and believe them to be macmasteri, labelled as "Viejeta II" Macmaster's Apisto. I'd be glad of confirmation of this and any info on them. Iam looking to breed them at some point.

 

[MacZ]

Yes, A. macmasteri. Almost all fish labeled "viejita" are just a domestic breed of A. macmasteri and 100% of "Viejita II" are definitely domestic A. macmasteri.

As these fish are pretty much ubiquitous in the hobby, maybe only grow out one clutch of fry as a practice in breeding Apistogramma, after that you might get problems selling them locally. So after that either move them to a display tank with lots of fry predators (like tetras) or separate the two permanently.

 

[Hutchy1998]

Thanks @MacZ good to know.

 

[apisto_fan4evr]

I too just bought a pair labeled as "Viejeta". I currently have several juvenile "Ashaninka" extreme red. Newb question, can/will they ("Viejeta" + "Ashaninka") breed? Are there any gotchas?

 

[Frank Hättich]

I have no idea why some macmasteri are sold with the addition "Ashaninka" (which according to Google are an indigenous people living in the rainforests of Peru and in the state of Acre in Brazil, i.e. nowhere near the area in Colombia where A. macmasteri are found) but since your "viejita" are almost certainly macmasteri too, the answer is yes. Even if your "viejita" were true viejita there would be the possibility of cross-breeding because macmasteri and viejita are closely related species.

 

[apisto_fan4evr]

According to another forum member, there appears to be 5-6 variants and the "Ashaninka" is a Czech thing for a few years at least?

Apistogramma macmasteri
Apistogramma macmasteri var Rotschulter
Apistogramma macmasteri var Viejeta
Apistogramma macmasteri Rio Meta' Wild-Form
macmasteri var Ashaninka extreme red

 

[MacZ]

The use of "var." variation is typical of botanical classification and very rarely used in zoology.
In zoology "cf." (in my experience only for wild forms) and "sp." (for any constellation) are used mainly.
So to examine the names you listed:

Apistogramma macmasteri

Type name. All specimens, wild, wild-form or domestic breeds alike are this. As are all of the following.

Apistogramma macmasteri var Rotschulter

To my knowledge used for a wild population/veriant, but also seen used as a tradename for your standard colour breeds. I have seen it labeled as A. macmasteri "Rotschulter" or A. sp. "Rotschulter"

Apistogramma macmasteri var Viejeta

The most frequently seen tradename. May have originated from an attempt selling ordinary domestic A. macmasteri as rare/expensive true A. viejita.

Apistogramma macmasteri Rio Meta' Wild-Form

Well... wild form says what they are, same phenotype as the wild population, but tankbred.

macmasteri var Ashaninka extreme red

Complete fantasy tradename, meant to sound exotic, overwhelming the casual fishkeeper. Whenever the trade notices a surplus in production, new names pop up. Most last a season, some get stuck.

 

[Apistoguy52]

According to another forum member, there appears to be 5-6 variants and the "Ashaninka" is a Czech thing for a few years at least?

Apistogramma macmasteri
Apistogramma macmasteri var Rotschulter
Apistogramma macmasteri var Viejeta
Apistogramma macmasteri Rio Meta' Wild-Form
macmasteri var Ashaninka extreme red

This reads like every fish Red Fish Blue Fish has imported from the Czechs since Jason setup shop

 

[anewbie]

According to another forum member, there appears to be 5-6 variants and the "Ashaninka" is a Czech thing for a few years at least?

Apistogramma macmasteri
Apistogramma macmasteri var Rotschulter
Apistogramma macmasteri var Viejeta
Apistogramma macmasteri Rio Meta' Wild-Form
macmasteri var Ashaninka extreme red

I hate to say it but these fancy names are just marketing ploy. While sometime they do refer to a colour or pattern frequently you never know how the fish will look until you buy it. As time goes on we will see more interesting names for the same old fish.

 

[MacZ]

I hate to say it but these fancy names are just marketing ploy. While sometime they do refer to a colour or pattern frequently you never know how the fish will look until you buy it. As time goes on we will see more interesting names for the same old fish.

That's what it all boils down to, yes.