Need an ID

[madattiver]

I bought three of these guys this weekend. They were labeled A. borelli, but I think they look more like the A. sp "Steel Blue" after I got them home and in my tank. Also, would anyone be able to help sex these little guys? I think there is two males and a female, but not 100%.

here's what I think are the two males:

male and pissoble female pics:

and single shots of what I thought was a female:

Any help would be great!!

Thanks in advance,
Adam

 

[ed seeley]

I'm pretty positive you've got the ID right. They are Steelblues to me.

Not so sure on the sexing. The little one looks a bit like a small male to me. You may have to wait for it to grow a bit until you can tell.

 

[madattiver]

Last night I watched the one I am not 100% sure on the sex do a little dance for the big male. It was almost verticle flicking its caudal fin at him. I am new to the apisto world and don't know too much about how they interact.

 

[Refael Hdr.]

Very nice Steels!
The small one does look like a female but I think it's to early to decide, it might be a young male. Not to mention the fact that females are not so common in this species...

 

[DH247]

Hey madattiver,

Do a quick search on the steel blues on the forum. There is a wealth of info on them. If you do have a female there then consider yourself pretty lucky! Females can be extremely hard to come by! Good luck!

 

[madattiver]

I took a few more pics of the apistos in their new home. They are finally settling in and seem to be doing well.

Here are a couple of the one male..

and the one that I think/thought was a female...

With the new pictures does this help at all with sexing that last one?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[bigbird]

Hello ,

I have not kept them before, but on appearance look like 2 males, the second one be the subdominant one..
Just out of couriosity, what happened to the tail area on the right side of the last fish ? Looks like a bite or growth .
Anyway hope that for your sake am wrong and let the others reply.
cheers jk

 

[madattiver]

The tail looks like it got wounded in a scrap with one of the other fish in the tank as it wasn't there the other day. I will check with my lfs to see if they can get more in and see if I can grab another few that I hope can turn out to be females and just keep my fingers crossed with this one as well.

 

[Apistomaster]

Like bigbird, all I see are males. How could anyone sell them as A. agassizi is beyond me.

 

[Apistomaster]

Like bigbird, all I see are males. How could anyone sell them as A. borelli is beyond me.