Need Help in Indentification

[sridharp77]

Guys,

I got them yesterday from singapore. They came to me as apistogramma tefe. I was told that they are breeding pairs, but i do not think so. For me both looks like male. Any one can confirm this please.

Regards,

Sridhar

 

[bigbird]

Hello Sridhar,

I believe you are correct. They are both males.
Sorry .
Also welcome to the forum.
cheers jan-kurt

 

[Mike Wise]

I agree, they are both males. Furthermore, I am not positive that they are A. sp. Tefé. The wavy lines on the flanks should be more distinct. I would need to see better photos for a positive identification.

 

[sridharp77]

Thanks Jan and Mike,

I will post a better picture tomorrow.

Regards,

Sridhar

 

[sridharp77]

Hope these pictures help.

Regards,

Sridhar

 

[bigbird]

Morning,

Uff you make these hard.
I still make it 2 males. Second photo is the dominant one, thus more colour, the first is either younger as well. The females do not show colour in the tail or have long dorsal, anal or even caudal fins. In a proper TEFE, in my view, the colour stripes on the caudal tail fin are same on bottom and top, yours just seem to show photos of the stripe on the top. I presume a possible mix of TEFE with another Apisto, but in the TEFE field.
Have you asked for more details from your supplier ?
Sorry but I have to leave it up to Mike for this one.

 

[Mike Wise]

Sridhar,

After seeing both photos, I believe that you have 2 males - of 2 different species.

The top photo shows a male A. agassizii of the "type form" found from Peru to the Rio Negro in Brazil. Female A. agassizii (or A. sp. Tefé) never show a white submarginal ring around the tail.

The bottom photo shows a male with the characteristic wavy longitudinal stripes of A. sp. Tefé.

Both the "type form" of A. agassizii and A. sp. Tefé are found in the Rio Tefé, but they do not occur together in the same place. You can look for females of both species, but I do not know of any features visible on females that make them different. Only the fish know that. I guess your best option is to buy several females, put them all in the same tank together with both males, and see with whom they prefer to breed. Females of each species - if they are allowed to choose - will breed only with the male of their own species. If they cannot choose freely between the 2 males, they will cross breed. This is what occurred when the original A. sp. Tefé appeared in the hobby. It caused many problems reproducing the species.

 

[sridharp77]

Thanks guys,

I currently have both of them together. But they are not fighting. let me see if i get some females.

Regards,

Sridhar