Re: Looking for Apistogramma Aggassizzi Tefe

[António Vitor <antonio.vitor@sapo.pt>]

I only bought 4 wild apistos ever...(I am still new to the apisto world)
(before this apistos I had home  made cacatuoides...they didn't live long)

The wild ones arrived in a lausy state, it was 4 immature specimens, 2 died
in the first week...the other 2 survived and they still  live...and breed...
;)
yes I have a dense planted tank
http://aquarium.planetaclix.pt/images/april-2003/Dscf0010.jpg
(Here is where my wild agassizi lives, now I have a lot less fishes than
when I took this picture...)

Yes they were timid...but only for the first month..
they eat now from my hand (beefheart with some molluscs), and even the
ocasional fish flake.

If they see my hand inside the tank they rush and come near to see if it's
food!

My tank is not in a 100% disease free state, I have gill flukes and maybe
some other parasite, this parasite is still here but with no ill-effects to
the fishes...I didn't use any medication...maybe I managed to kill all the
bugs...maybe..or maybe not...
;)
I do believe that this parasite can train the immunologic system of the
fish, so it might be a good thing to have it here...maybe...
just like polio illness...
...Polio was a illness that only attacked those who had never had any
contacts with it...those who lived in the perfect enviromenment (disease
free), where the ones infected...

I also use garlic and yeast on my beef heat receipt, to improve the
immunologic status of all the fishes...I think it works!

Another thing that is in favour of the wild fish:
their's descendents usually don't manifest any genetic illness, the aquarium
selected breed are usually prone to that problems.

My wild agassizi (arrived with the name "alenquer" associated, I guess this
name don't mean a thing ;)   ), the male is a little dull, but still is
beautifull, with lots of blue, I like it more than the home made versions,
it's just my oppinion...

Regards from Portugal!
António Vitor

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Barbax66@wmconnect.com>
To: <apisto@v2.listbox.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: Looking for Apistogramma Aggassizzi Tefe


> hey thanks for the information Vito. It is important that we specialize. I
> think it is good that we do not all think alike. I think there are
benefits for
> all here. On the one hand conserving the wild stocks and supporting
project
> piaba is a wonderfull endeavor. Many Apisto folks will want to adhere to
that
> and perhaps we can call them purists. I see a need for this and I also
work with
> wild fish. However on the flip side we must not ignore that Apistos are
> becoming "fancy" or better put we are developing new and exciting color
varities.
> A.cacatoudies gold, triple red, sunset , sunburst etc etc I think most
casual
> hobbyists and many non apisto folks will be attrcated to these. Also for
the
> serious breeder it opens up the possability of working with a fish for
several
> years and meeting breeding goals and getting much rewards from our hard
work.
> Honestly wild apistos are more work they die often after months of looking
> fine. I have dissceted many many apistos and no matter what quarantine
protocols
> you use i feel we cannever say with 100% assurity they are clean. On the
> otherhand wild apistos are especialy easy to breed. After a long hardship
they seem
> jump back well and breed, probably because this may resemble what happens
in
> the wild after the dry season is over. Also i feel wild apistos do not
compare
> with line bred Apistos from Europe not just in color but desease
resistance
> and what I like to call domesticated apistos. Because they are not shy
they swim
> out in the open and eat right in front of you . as we all know we have to
> plant heavily our tanks for wild apistos. Anyway i think we have reasons
to do
> both and we should have some purists but with the advent of all these
fancy
> lines of apistos I think most of the excitment and popularity will come
from the
> so called fancy or line bred apistos from Europe. It would in fact be nice
if
> we american breeders can begin to not just try and breed our fish or be
> collectors but  that we start working seriously with our fish. I hope this
starts a
> good discussion. have a nice weekend all.
>
> dave
>
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