Re: Too many Apistos!

[Oliver Lucanus <oliver@belowwater.com>]

I looked through my notes, and we found hippolytae in almost every Negro
habitat where pertensis was present. The gephyra I found in the RioNegro
area were always deeper in the forest and usually with agazizii. The main
stream has sometimes 6 or 7 species of Apistogramma in the same spot. I
would say that hippolytae are everywhere, but never in large numbers unlike
pertensis which is often the most common species. A lot of this has to do
with time of day and time of year and I would be very careful with any
assumptions of what various species prefer. I have collected the Rio Negro
in the spring when water levels are already high and the fish have moved
into different areas. Hippolytae is also much more common in the Rio Branco=
,
where it dominates pertensis in more of a white water setting.

Personally I have no worries about various species of Apistogramma
interbreeding. I have yet to see it happen with wild fish, and I often keep
4 species in a 15 gallon to condition fish for photos.

Oliver
=20

> I tend to agree with Sal. Not so much with hybrids between gephyra &
> pertensis, but that the fry of the 2 species would be hard to tell apart.=
 My
> suggestion would be putting pertensis with hippolytae. These 2 species ar=
e
> sympatric (occur in the same streams) in the middle Rio Negro, but accord=
ing
> to R=F6mer (1998) they are not syntopic (inhabit the same biotope).  A.
> pertensis prefers the deeper parts of streams with sun shining on the lea=
f
> litter. A. hippolytae is more generalized, found in deep as well as shall=
ow
> water. It is rather rare in most places.  Not only will they inhabit
> different microhabitats, if provided, but their fry look much different a=
t
> 1"/2.5 cm and easy to separate.
>=20
> For those interested, the reference cited above is excellent and about to
> only such study on apistos in the wild.  If you can get a copy (try
> Amazon.de), I'd highly recommend it:  R=F6mer, U. 1998. Einige Aspekte der
> Mikrohabitatwahl s=FCdamerikanischer Zwergbuntbarsche (Teleostei: Cichlidae=
)
> [Some aspects of microhabitat selection among South American dwarf cichli=
ds
> (Teleostei: Cichlidae)].  in Greven, Hartmut & R=FCtiger Riehl, eds.  Verha=
lten
> der Aquarienfische [Behavior of aquarium fishes]. Birgit Schmettkamp Verl=
ag ,
> Bornheim.  271 p.  (p. 239-254). I can supply ASG members who have a copy=
 of
> the paper with an English translation.
>=20
> Mike Wise
>=20
>=20
> Bob Raible wrote:
>=20
>> 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
>>=20
>> 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.
>>=20
>> PS: I am in awe of the A. panduro's colors - I had no idea!
>>=20

--
Oliver Lucanus
oliver@belowwater.com
Montreal, Canada
Www.belowwater.com




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