My first apistos!

[James16]

Hi guys, just got my first apistos and I love them already.

I need a positive ID sold as viejita but they could be Macmasteri?

The female is quite small so probably not mature yet.


I'm worried about the female abit, she is hiding behind the filter alot where the male can't get to her, he is hassaling her abit, he is almost twice her size.
When she comes out he swims over to her and starts vibrating and being aggressive like my kribs do, is her going behind the filter just escaping from unwanted attention?


:hi:

 

[FF MkII]

Hi James, chances are they will macmasteri, the other ones are apparently super rare to non existant in the hobby.

The female doesnt sound ready for the males advances so if you can separate her as he could harrass her to death. The size difference is normal for apistos and the females dont usually get much bigger than a few inches.

 

[James16]

Okay I'll see what I can do tomorrow I think I have some cross stitch thing I use for breeding WCMMs that I could use as a tank divider, would that work?

 

[FF MkII]

Actually the "female" could be a young male but dont quote me on that.

 

[FF MkII]

Okay I'll see what I can do tomorrow I think I have some cross stitch thing I use for breeding WCMMs that I could use as a tank divider, would that work?

:thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

Hi James, chances are they will macmasteri, the other ones are apparently super rare to non existant in the hobby.

They are about just now steve :yes: I have both on my lists at the moment, and some on order...I did look at these pics last night but couldn't decide either way :dk: I also think it's possibly 2 males

 

[James16]

Thanks for the advice.

I was all ready to seperate them this morning but the female(?) was out of hiding and they're getting on fine. Think they were just settling in :thumbup:

I'll monitor them closely.

Someone on another forum has ID'd them as Domestic strain of Macmasteri.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Nice fish, they are almost certainly the red domestic form of macmasteri, and I think they are 2 males as well. The female should have much less red and have a black border to the front of the ventral fin. Our local MA had fish labelled as A. macmasteri and A. vietija for sale as pairs (A. vietija more expensive), but they were all A. macmasteri and all male.
This is a female in breeding dress, but if you imagine her much less yellow you get the look.

The true A. vietija isn't present in the hobby at the moment, so it will be interesting if they do turn up.

cheers Darrel

 

[James16]

I'm not sure if it's male or female.

When the male goes around it he is always vibrating and dancing rather than attacking would he do that to another male? I'll see if I can get a picture....

Just to clarify, the pictures at the top of the thread is of the same fish, the male just incase anyone thought that was my 'pair' :lol:

 

[James16]

Pics

Here are some pics, sorry there so rubbish took them very quickly :wb:

 

[James16]

The "female" has a black line coming down from her eye, that the male doesnt have, is this a sexual dimorphism?

 

[Irene0100]

very smart fish! let us know how they get on...

 

[bigbird]

Nice fishes indeed. Also agree with the Macmacsteri. Looking at your tank, would maybe add some more structure for the fish. Ideally would like to have a side on full shot of the fish if you can. Am still not 100% sure to sex. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[James16]

Nice fishes indeed. Also agree with the Macmacsteri. Looking at your tank, would maybe add some more structure for the fish. Ideally would like to have a side on full shot of the fish if you can. Am still not 100% sure to sex. cheers jk :thumbup:

I've got alder cones and leaves coming, and im going to get some more wood next week. I'm pretty sure it's female, so good food and it should be obvious soon :thumbup:

 

[bigbird]

i fed mine brine shrimp, live mosquito larvae and small very small amounts of blood worm. do not over feed on bloodworm. I always used oak leaves. Before adding these to the tank, place in a seperate bucket, add water conditioner, place leaves in the bucket, then 3-4 days later add them to the tank. They will sink etc and will be natural. Also a small tip, normally with female apistos, they like a small entry to their cave etc, mayve place your cocunut in such a way that the entrance is smaller. Mine breed on a regular basis, before I sold them. good luck cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[FF MkII]

Hi James, yeah I would be about 90% that it's a female.

I have seen on some german wholesalers site ( not glasers ) that they had viejta "fire red" tbh it did look like macmasteri

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Hi James, yeah I would be about 90% that it's a female.

Hope so, but with the usual proviso that I'm crap at this and Steve is probably right, but I'm still going with 2 males. Can you get a good look a the females ventral fins? if they have a solid black edge (looks like they might on the first blurred photo?) she is a female.

cheers Darrel

 

[James16]

She has a black line along the bottom of her ventral and pelvic fins, which the male doesn't. She is also quite a deep yellow colour now, where as the male is silvery blue.

The female is looking more and more like that pic you posted everyday...

I hope it's a female sooo bad

 

[bigbird]

A female does have a lot more yellow, my only concern is the amount of colour on the female, but maybe she is just settling in. There is also a possibility of a sleeper male. Any chance of more photos ? cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

She has a black line along the bottom of her ventral and pelvic fins, which the male doesn't. She is also quite a deep yellow colour now

That sounds very promising, so looks like Steve was right and you should feel the patter of tiny fins soon.

my only concern is the amount of colour on the female

Yes, same reason as JK for thinking she may have been a male.

cheers Darrel