Possible Steel Blue ID? Help?

[tobraham]

As a beginner apistogramma collector, I was drawn to these small blue apistos at my LFS (Finatics in Richland, Washington). These were labeled as 'Apistogramma Borellii Steel Blue'. Upon some further research, I find that they may be Apistogramma Steel Blue hybrid species, but am unsure. Could anyone help me ID these blue/yellow beauties? The LFS said there are females available and I wouldn't mind breeding some males and females. They are about 3/4'' long and have yellowish/orange eyes, with some yellow sheen to the top of the head and extending to the front of the top fin... and are a blue/grey sheen everywhere else. Sorry for the potato quality pictures, the first and last of these pictures are probably the clearest.

Any info I find online is a bit confusing and sometimes contradictory. Any help at all is greatly appreciated.

 

[gerald]

Looks like "electric blue" ram -- not an Apisto at all.

 

[tobraham]

Oh crap. Will these do well with my Cockatoo Cichlids? I hope my LFS will take these back if they are rams....

 

[tobraham]

Update: The LFS owner saw the pics of my 'borellii steel blue' and admitted that his salt water guy who was on duty the day of purchase had sold me Electric Blue Rams. He took the rams back and is ordering more Cockatoo Cichlids for me. There were actual steel blue apistogramma there, males and females... but I decided to go the all cockatoo tank instead of a mixed tank. Thank you SO MUCH for your help. Your advice probably saved one or more of my fish from death. Wooh.. there is so much to know when it comes to fish!

 

[Livebearer Lady]

Yah, deffinately Ram's.
Good choice to go with the Cockatoidies as Steel Blue's are a challenge for a beginner
I'm from the westside and will come for a visit in the springtime!!

 

[tobraham]

The store is Finatics Tropical Fish, located in the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, WA. Good selection there for sure