Some questions regarding Apistogramma norberti

[fart]

Hi

I also got a group of Apistogramma norberti yesterday. And I have some questions.
First is the black spot on the dorsal fin is that only seen on male Apistogramma norberti ?

The mouth on the Apistogramma norberti, is big compared to other apistogramma i have, does it have something to do with what the fish eats in the wild?

Some of the Apistogramma norberti females i got had some strange black markings that i have not seen on other females, in books and online, what are they?

One of the females i got has three dark spot on and under the dorsal fin.
One with a black spot under the eye and another one a bit further back on the gill cover



The biggest male i got.

female dark spot

female ?

female markings

female dark spot

male

female darkspots

female dark spot

With regards
RHD

 

[tjudy]

Those random black marks are skin parasites. They will not harm the fish, and will not be passed on to fry. The parasite has a second host, a bird that eats the fish, in order to complete its life cycle

 

[Mike Wise]

Hi

I also got a group of Apistogramma norberti yesterday. And I have some questions.
First is the black spot on the dorsal fin is that only seen on male Apistogramma norberti ?

The large black spot on the soft part of the dorsal fin is one of the diagnostic features of A. norberti. Few other apistos show it (A. hoignei is one). Both sexes exhibit it.

The mouth on the Apistogramma norberti, is big compared to other apistogramma i have, does it have something to do with what the fish eats in the wild?

A. norberti is closely related to the species of the cacatuoides-group. Like them it has larger, heavier lips. I don't think it has very much to do with food. I think that the large, bright red lips (seen on wild specimens) is used in display.

Some of the Apistogramma norberti females i got had some strange black markings that i have not seen on other females, in books and online, what are they?

One of the females i got has three dark spot on and under the dorsal fin.
One with a black spot under the eye and another one a bit further back on the gill cover

Black spot syndrome, like Ted wrote. It's not uncommon on Peruvian apistos.

 

[fart]

Interesting information tjudy, is it a specific bird spices that carries the parasites?
Good that its not any danger to the fish those parasites.

The large lips are very prominent and i see they prefer frontal displays more than the tail flipping. At least so far.

Regarding the black spot on the soft part of the dorsal fin, the last picture of the female, she doesn't have the spot? is it a feature that some
A. norberti don't show?


With regards
RHD