My New Fish

[pmcbar]

Got bunch of new dwarfs, mostly apisto's
here are some pics

Apistogramma steindachneri:

Apistogramma hongsloi:

I was hoping these were females but unfortunately I think I got all males. Take a look and tell me what you think:

Apistogramma agassizii:

Apistogramma nijsseni:

Apistogramma viejita:

Nannacara anomala:

I also got a pair of Crenicichla regani but have't been able to get a good picture of them.
The Nannacara and Viejita are already in breeding colors, so hopefully I'll have fry soon!

Pat

 

[Mike Wise]

Nice fish, Pat, but some are mis-identified. Your "A. steindachneri" are actually an eunotus-complex species. I can't be sure which from the photos. Your "A. viejita" are commonly sold under that name, but are actually a domestic form of A. macmasteri. Your "N. anomala" look like N. aureocephalus to me; a rarer and more desirable (expensive) species.

 

[pmcbar]

Thanks Mike.
Since you are "the expert" I was hoping you could help me out. After reading your post I searched and searched to try and find out the differences in what I have and what I am suppose to have. Boy is there a lot of confusing info and pictures out there!
I did find a post by you at the krib describing the differences in the A. macmasteri and A. viejita so I’m good there.
Could you describe the differences between N. anomala and N. aureocephalus?

From doing research on the A. steindachneri I see I’m missing the spot on the side (caudal spot?), although some descriptions say it may not be there, is that true?
Here are some better pictures; I was hoping you could ID it for me.

By the way, I am very happy with my fish, whatever they are, but if they do have fry and I sell them, I would like to sell them as the proper fish.
I also bought them from an online retailer, does it make any sense to contact them and let them know, as they are still selling them on there web site and aquabid under the names sold to me?

thanks in advance
Pat

 

[Ruki]

Your "A. steindachneri" are actually an eunotus-complex species. I can't be sure which from the photos.

For me male and female are two different species.
Male has weird proportions, especially long head(which doesn't look for me like a head of species from eunotus-complex because of location and shape of mouth). For A. steindachneri this fish has too much distinct coloration, fins in other shape(A. steindachenri has a lyretail and high dorsal fin), and caudal spot should be a round, not oval.
Female on those photos looks different from male, but she isn't very visible at them. So pmcbar, can you take some photos of her?

 

[Mike Wise]

A. steindachneri will show a large triangular spot (flank blotch) on the middle flanks of the body at some time. It is larger than the lateral band and extends above it toward the dorsal fin. As Lukasz wrote, A. steindachneri has a much higher dorsal fin (male) that shows a serrated top, more like your A. macmasteri. Your fish does not show a flank blotch - nor even a lateral spot (a larger blotch on the 3rd vertical bar). Most apistos show a lateral spot - except species of the regani-lineage: regani- (includes Apistogrammoides), macmasteri-, borellii- and alacrina-groups. I still think it is an eunotus-complex species, but the photos don't show enough diagnostic black markings to identify the sub-complex (let alone the species). Photos of the male in subdominant/fright dress (showing vertical bars) as well as photos of the female would probably help. Do you know if these are wild fish or tank bred?

The caudal spot is the spot at the root of the tail; the lateral spot is the spot in the middle of the lateral band (on Bar 3).

"N. anomala" and N. aureocephalus are easy to distinguish. Look at the scales on the flanks of the body. If the scales are darker in the center and the edges are lighter, then this is "N. anomala". If, however, the scales are lighter in the center and the edges are darker, then this is N. aureocephalus.

Hope this helps and enjoy your fish!

 

[pmcbar]

Hey, thanks for all the help so far.
I do not think they are wild caught, as he lists his wild caught fish in a different section.

Here are some more pictures

2 more of the male

Ok now I'm off to figure out Nannacara I have

Pat

 

[pmcbar]

Additional photo's.
I tried to to get pictures of them in fright mode, I don't know if they help or not, but since "film" is cheap here goes:
Chased them around a little and then caught him in a net.

Female trapped in the corner

 

[Mike Wise]

OK, now I see why we are so confused! Your 'female' actually is a young male A. steindachneri. The male, however, appears to be a cruzi-subcomplex form. It looks like one of the poplations of A. sp. Putumayo, probably the Algodon II/Galaxy form. These forms, from the rivers of northern Peru, are not clearly understood. I'm not even sure if we are dealing with just one or many closely related species.

 

[pmcbar]

Thanks a bunch Mike, I really appreciate your help.
When they first arrived I thought they were a male and female but I started to have my doubts not only in there apperance but in how they were interacting with each other.
Not sure what I'm going to do with them now, but again many thanks

Pat