Steindachneri or not?

[Mark]

I can't show pictures yet, but I have some fish I am not sure of. The male looks like a small steindachneri (incl. forked tail and colour) but the female has two features I can't remember seeing in steindachneri:
The line on the gills/yaw is not a real line but a blotch. Because it is bigger than just a line it is very good to see.
The female has a black line starting from the head to the analfin on the belly (like viejita) It is very nice, but I haven't seen that in my steindachneri females. I can't compare the two as I do not have the steindachneri at the moment.
Both male and female are not as robust as the steindachneri.

Does anybody know if this is just a variant of the steindachneri or a separate species. If so who can tell me the name and origin?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Mike Wise]

May I suggest that you compare your fish with photos of A. hippolytae females? They develop an "eye patch" similar to that seen on Thorichtys spp. Occassionally female A. steindacheri females show this pattern, too. So far the only species of the steindachneri-group that shows tips on the tail of the male is A. steindachneri. The best way to separate the steindachneri-group species is to compare the size and location above the lateral band of the flank spot - and the size of the caudal spot.

 

[Mark]

Hi Mike,

You're right; the black stripe or blotch is like the hippolytae female. If I did understand your answer you are saying it is a steindachneri but the female has some caracteristics of the hippolytae. Because that can happen sometimes, it is a normal steindachneri. Ok now I know it is a steindachneri. Thanks.

Mark

 

[Mike Wise]

Without seeing the fish it is hard to tell what you have - probably a pair of A. steindachneri, but possibly a male A. steindachneri & a female hippolytae. A. hippolytae has a much larger (taller & broader) flank patch than does A. steindachneri. A. hippolytae has a larger caudal spot, too. This is why I suggested comparing the sizes of the marking on the two species.