Fish identification??

[Fee]

Im not sure if he is a Bolivian ram or not?? The colour on his head is very different

 

[CFC]

Not a ram, if i'm not mistaken its a Apistogramma macmasteri and a female at that.

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi There,

Sorry, but have to disagree with CFC. I think this is a male Apistogramma viejita.

Whether its Apisto macmasteri or Apisto viejita, it's a male > females will show a distinct black edge to the ventral fins by the time colour starts to develop in the caudal fin and I wouldn't expect the colour splash over the head of this fish if it was a female.

Reason for thinking Apisto viejita > the spot on the caudle peduncle (spot at the base of the tail) appears round and fairly small. In Apisto macmasteri the spot should be more elongated and cover almost the entire height of the caudle peduncle.

Regards

Andrew

 

[Fee]

Not a ram, if i'm not mistaken its a Apistogramma macmasteri and a female at that.

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Thankyou i dont think he is a female as i have two and the other one is slightly more dull and pink!! Thank you very much!

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi Fee,

Females, once mature (and sexually active) should be bright yellow with black edges to the ventrals and show a row of black spots along the centre of the body (depending on their mood).

Sounds like you females are either juvenile or out of breeding condition).

Regards

Andrew

 

[CFC]

It looks nothing like the A.vejita i was keeping a few years back (sorry no pics) which were distinctly much redder than that, the males also had prominant extensions to the second rays of the dorsal fin which that fish lacks However i'm no expert on small fish nor Cichlids so i leave it to your greater judgement.

 

[pseud]

I agree with CFC, it's not A. vejita, which is much more... bland.

(I've actually seen A. Vejita labelled in a shop as A. Agassizzi! but that's beside the point)

 

[Fee]

Wow I didnt think this would cause so much disgusion, I will put up a picture of my female as she is starting to change from pinkish to orangy. I am very confused with this!

 

[Jer-]

I would agree with a.d.wood on this and say that this is an apistogramma viejita.
I currently own a pair of viejitas the pic resembles my fish alot.

My fish has more red around the head tho, and the head bump is not as prominent as the one in the pic.

Pseud- viejitas are NOT bland... they are much more beautiful than the Rams or Cockatoos which as so common i am starting to get sick of them. no offense to ppl who are still in love with Rams and cockatoos.

That jus my opinion anyways.

ps- what i know is that macmasteri males have extensions in the tail fin. ie the top and bottom end are pointier. But thats all i know.

 

[jfrancho]

Another vote for A. viejita. I'm pretty sure mature males also get the caudal extensions mentioned earlier. Sometimes Apistos are imported as mixed, unidentified dwarf chichlids, and it can be hard to identify these ustil they are full mature. Even then it is almost impossible to tell the females.