New here-just got an Apisto-what is he?

[seaecho]

I just bought this apisto at a LFS. He/she was labled "Blue Apisto." It's a juvenile, obviously, about 1.5" long.Any ideas on what it is? Thanks for any help!

 

[slimbolen99]

Hard to tell, but in my UNexpert opinion, it's not an apisto, but rather a Nanacara species; probably anomola. Just a guess.

 

[seaecho]

This is amazing! I've posted these pics on several boards, and so far I've gotten, Blue Steel, Macmasteri, L. Curviceps, and now Nanacara! I wish I knew what I had! Now I'm off to look at Nanacara pics! Thank you, Slimbolen.

 

[storel]

it belongs to the genera Laetacara and not to the others that you have mentionned

 

[Simon Morgan]

It is almost definitely Laetacara curviceps, you'll know for sure when he grows out a bit.

 

[gerald]

Take a look at Taylor-Rose's curviceps pictures at the link below. That's probably what you've got, or another closely related Laetacara species. http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/i...leaves-and-laetacara-photos.15131/#post-80077

 

[seaecho]

Amazing that the fish store would make such a glaring mistake! The more I looked at this fish, the more I could see the smiling face that they speak of with Laetacara. Why call it a Blue Apisto? And I hope this guy doesn't get nasty as he gets older. I have a very mellow, sweet Bolivian Ram that wouldn't fight back if his life depended on it!

 

[seaecho]

How could I have missed that "smile" before? Thanks to you guys, I now know what I have. Sorry didn't mean to double post the first pic.

 

[gerald]

It probably got mixed up with Apistos at the wholesaler, and so that's what they thought they were buying. Was there a bunch of these Laetacara in the tank, or just one or a few mixed in with other dwarf cichlids? Anyway, mis-ID in the pet trade is not so "amazing" to most of us. The shop or wholesaler may have some knowledgable staff, but not everybody hired to bag fish knows all the species.

Laetacara are usually about the same as rams on the mellow-aggressive scale (generally less aggressive than Apistos IMO), but ANY cichlid can and will attack when guarding eggs or fry -- even your mellow sweet ram.

 

[seaecho]

There were a bunch of these, and also some fish that were black with white spots (I wonder what those were?) Anyway, I'm not planning on breeding anyone (ram or this, or any other, that is why I have only one of each) so I guess I needn't worry? I'm actually very pleased I have a curviceps. It's a very friendly fish, right up at the glass, watching me, not the least bit afraid. Now, hearing the Apistos are more aggressive, I'm all the more glad this is what I ended up with. You guys are great!

 

[Simon Morgan]

Black with white spots is probably juvenile Tropheus duboisi.

 

[Mike Wise]

Laetacara sp. for sure, but based on the width of the supraorbital band I'd be more inclined to say it is L. dorsigera. There are forms that are more blue than the typical dorsiger, but less blue than the true curviceps.