Trying to identify this Dwarf Cichlid

[Zeaqua]

Hi all! I’m very new here (about 10 hours new!) and I’m trying to identify this “apisto” I’ve had for about 2 years. It was sold to me as A. cacatuoides, along with what I now know is an actual male of that species. I’m unsure if it was wild caught, but when purchased, it was definitely not fully grown. This individual changes color fairly often, and seems to have two separate “stages” of color (the first may be stress coloration, but I’m not entirely sure.) Also, I do want to apologize beforehand if some of my color descriptions are off, I am a bit color blind! Much of the time it is a light brown-orange with darker brown shades along its lateral line. The fins are usually very clear in this state, and there is a clear distinction between the pupil and the rest of the eye. Occasionally, it may show faint tan bars along its side. Less often, it will show off much brighter yellow-ish coloration, and distinct dark markings along the pelvic fins and lateral line, as well as much darker eyes. I believe it to be an Apistogramma species, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if it was in a closely related genus. Any help would be appreciated, I’ve been wondering about this for a while! (Pictures attached!)

 

[Frank Hättich]

It's an Apisto and for sure not A. cacatuoides. It might be an eunotus-subcomplex species.