Need help with ID

[Nano Cichlids]

ive never talked about these because well one i didn't think they'd live to see this day and two wasn't to sure what species of Apistogramma they were. i was given them about 8-9 months ago from a spawn my friend had in his daughters 30 gallon community. He told me they were cacatuoides but I couldn't tell as the fry were only about .5in long so i grew 10 of these up. Only 3 made it to today and I introduced them into my 55 seeing as this is the most peaceful set up i have right now. There looking great but I highly doubt these are cacas just because ones bright yellow and shows zero red coloring. I could be wrong though. To me they look like A. Viejita.

 

[Mike Wise]

From what I can see in these photos, I think that you have 2 different species. The fish with a caudal spot looks like a macmasteri-group species, probably A. macmasteri. You need to grow it to maturity for me to be sure. The fish with a continuous lateral band (no caudal spot) looks like a female A. cacatuoides. Most female cacatuoides of wild forms don't show any color in their fins. What apisto species did your friend have in his tank?

 

[Nano Cichlids]

He said he had two breeding pairs of cacatuoides. One was double red the other orange. He no longer has these fish so I couldn't get photos but thank you. So the yellow one is a female caca? It's fins are pointed that's why I thought it was a male. I don't know anything about dwarf cichlids so thank you very much

 

[Rolo]

Hi,

I agree with Mike, but to me the Macmasteri-group species looks more like A. hongsloi than like A. macmasteri.

regards,
Rolo

 

[Mike Wise]

Rolo, you could be quite correct. The lateral band is a bit 'odd' for a macmasteri-like species. Even the cacatuoides female shows some atypical features. The ventral fin pattern and pronounced black lip marking are similar to A. sp. Schwarzkinn/Black-chin's, but this species should have a caudal spot.

 

[MonteSS]

Here is my young (3/4-7/8"") Honsloi Rostrich for comparison.

....Bill

 

[Mike Wise]

Bill, your hongsloi sure do look a lot like Nano's macmasteri-group fish. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same species.

 

[Nano Cichlids]

Is it possiable that I have some hybrids? And my fish look very similar to yours bill. Hm I still am not quite sure on this. Thanks for helping all. So the yellow one is a female caca in breeding colors? And the two duller colored ones are Honsloi Rostrich?

 

[Nano Cichlids]

So the one is still yellow and hangs around a duller one both of them have the solid horizontal bar across there body. Then there's another dull one that has a broken up horizontal bar so I'm assuming that's a different species?

 

[Mike Wise]

Not necessarily. These fish can change their lateral band to spots when they want to.