please ID my Apisto ...

[BRIGET]

I won't be concealing that these young animals are a case.
The father was Ap.Wilhelmi and mother Ap.Agassizi Double Red.
How to name this fish and how to distinguish their sex ?

http://www.fotosik.pl/pokaz_obrazek/1468a996a50d8f33.html

http://www.fotosik.pl/pokaz_obrazek/465f3787fbda6893.html

http://www.fotosik.pl/pokaz_obrazek/d725b111e0a6e69e.html

whether it is a female ?
pale side waist and distinct black dot ?
http://www.fotosik.pl/pokaz_obrazek/08d0f4a5771a21a1.html

 

[Mike Wise]

You fish are "A. sp. Wilhelmi X A. agassizii Hybrid". They are just that a hybrid. There may be reasons to cross species, i.e. for cosmetic reasons (Blood Parrot cichlid, Flowerhorns, Red Swordtails and Platys), but these are carefully designed crosses for a specific purpose.

Personally, other than scientific curiosity, I see no reason to own accidentally crossed fish. I certainly would not sell or give any away. If it happened to me, I'd feed the fish to Mugsy, my 14"/35cm Electric Catfish, which I use to cull excess/deformed fish in my tanks. I would be very disturbed if I learned that someone was knowingly selling such fish without noting that they are hybrids. When they do, I even go so far as to let others in the hobby know that the fish are hybrids and urge them not to buy any fish from such "hobbyists". Like I said, this is my personal opinion.

 

[discusone]

I dont like giving thumbs up on a particular post/response,BUT,Mike is right on!

Its tough enough to find out what apisto. you have from nature,never mind when we keepers start to add to the problem,by breeding indiscriminately.

Maybe,if you dont know what you have,dont breed the darn thing.

If a person wishes to breed a certain species,then research your stock.Play detective.

The offshoots,domestic strains,and color spawnings are driving me crazy.

I had a pair of agassizi back in the late sixties,and what i see offered today is pure designer breeding.

I agree,cull the fry,obtain the correct male/female,for the species,and preserve what nature intended.It will ,in the least,make it a hell of a lot easier to know what we are keeping!


Bill.

 

[Mike Wise]

Briget, please don't think that we are "picking" on you. We are not. We just want to emphasize that the sale of accidental hybrids create too many problems in the hobby. There are many species of rainbowfish and mbuna cichlids that are now not pure because of accidental crosses. These hybrids, unknown to other breeders, were used to breed with their fish. This often results in lower quality fish with poor fertility and odd colors.

 

[bigbird]

Hi all,

Also a personal opinion, especially with the Apistos. No mixing, no hybrids, no trying, no selling, keep these 100% Apistos to each individual. Make our hobby pure and only sell or give away fry and offspring from 100% same Apisto. So agree with Mike and Bill.cheers jk