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Re: female aspect
OK, Yvan, here's a little information on female apistos. Much of this can be
found in books of dwarfs. I always encourage people to read as much as they can
find. Most of the apistos that show a lot of sexual dimorphism have males that
are highly polygamous. Increased body size, fins, & colors help them attract a
greater number of females into the harem. Females only compete with other
females of the same species for territory. Females don't need these features. On
the contrary, they are better able to protect their spawns and fry by being less
conspicuous (smaller and less colorful). You might think that the bright yellow
colors of a brooding female would stand out, but in photos of brooding females
in the wild that I've seen they are not as conspicuous as you would think.
Anyway the best "cryptic" form seems to be a small fish with low fins and no
metallic colors. I assume that females with too much color were more easily
preyed upon and didn't survive to reproduce these features (which can be seen in
some domestic strains). Therefore nearly all successful females show these
feature and look similar. The sand dwelling species have similar looking sexes,
as do many of what I believe are the most recently evolved species. I think that
I see a trend in apistos from more ornate males to more cryptic forms.
Although most females are similar, females can easily be sorted into
species-groups. Ingo Koslowski described the differences in his article
"Beiträge zur Unterscheidung von Apistogramma-Weibchen" [Contributions on
differentiating Apistogramma females], Festschrift zum 25Jährigen Jubiläum der
DCG, p. 204-217. I would never mix females of the same species-group. There is
too much chance of getting hybrids. This is why I always recommend, when
necessary, keeping a slender apisto with a deeper bodied form. In this way there
is virtually no chance of hybridization (they will be from 2 different
species-groups) and the young can be more easily identified. Hope this helps.
Mike Wise
Yvan Alleau wrote:
> just to add to Sal's opinion, i have a question:
> why are thoses apistos females so similar, at least to me? Also most of the
> males are quiet different, female often have same shape /color. I'm sometime
> confused when looking at them in my tanks. Hopefully they know who is what
> but still hybridation happens i guess because of those similarities.
> take care
> FLI USA
>
> Yvan Alleau
> 712 Kings boulevard
> 97330 Corvallis, Oregon
> home # 738-0606
> College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
> Oregon State University
> office (Burt 222) # 737-3649, to be used wisely !
> yalleau@oce.orst.edu
>
> "When you're far from everything, you're getting closer to the essential"
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "salS" <chas33@optonline.net>
> To: <apisto@listbox.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 8:37 AM
> Subject: Re: Too many Apistos!
>
> > Aren't you afraid of hybridization? I know that I (except for a few
> > species) have a tough time telling the females apart. Even though I agree
> > with you that it's very satisfying watching the different species interact
> > with each other, I constantly fight the urge to do so because I don't want
> > any interbreeding.
> > Good luck
> > sal
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Fredrik Ljungberg <Fredrik.Ljungberg@saab.se>
> > To: <apisto@listbox.com>
> > Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 12:00 AM
> > Subject: Re: Too many Apistos!
> >
> >
> > > Like you say, A. gephyra and A. pertensis are often imported
> > > together, along with A. gibbiceps. I've had all three in a
> > > 250-litre tank (125x45 cm surface) or 66 gal (49x18 in) for
> > > you non-metric guys. I had 2 pairs/1 "trio" with no problems
> > > at all. A 30g should be enough for A. gephyra/A. pertensis
> > > as I don't consider either of them to be very aggressive
> > > and/or claiming very large territories (sp?). Part of the
> > > fun is actually keeping different species together and
> > > watching them "interact", fighting for space and tending
> > > their fry.
> > >
> > > Good luck
> > > Fredrik L.
> > >
> > >
> > > Bob Raible wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I overdid it at the PCCA Auction last weekend. A fellow Apisto fancier
> > > > was moving to the other coast and auctioned off his stock. I am now
> the
> > > > proud owner of:
> > > > A. sp. panduro
> > > > A. cacatuoides
> > > > A. nijsseni
> > > > A. gephyra
> > > > A. hippolytae
> > > > A. pertensis
> > > >
> > > > I am short at least one tank and was wondering if it is possible to
> > > > keep any of these pairs together in the same tank (largest available
> > > > footprint is a 30g long). Are any of these fish likely to be more
> > > > forgiving of the others species than they are of their conspecifics? I
> > > > noticed that gephyra and pertensis are found together in nature. Would
> > > > that mean that they are more likely keep the peace? TIA.
> > > >
> > > > PS: I am in awe of the A. panduro's colors - I had no idea!
> > > >
> > > > __________________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Archives"!
> > >
> > > --
> > > Fredrik.Ljungberg@saab.se
> > > Flutter and Loads Department, Saab Ab
> > > voice +46 13 18 54 60, fax +46 13 18 33 63
> > >
> > >
> >
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> >
> >
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