Re: Sv: veijitas

[Frauley/Elson <fraulels@minet.ca>]

> > Anton E. Høgh wrote:
 
> I have another question concerning Veijitas, it´s a bit embarrasing but i
> can't destinguish the sexes. Also i have not been able to find any pictures
> ind books or on the net. The guy at the store where I bought them was not
> sure if they really was Veijitas. The pairs I´ve got has a marble like
> pattern on their heads in a Bluish/green color and a "black patch on their
> tail" (Sorry about the terms) :-\ does that sound like Veijitas ?

Anton,
If they are veijitas, and are young, it isn't easy. veijita females have
a bit of colour for a female apisto, often even some red in the fins. As
the fish mature, the male should get a bright red on the outside margins
of the caudal, a greenish body to the female's bronze, and an extension
at the back edge of the dorsal. They sex out slowly, and grow slowly, so
they can frustrate.
A bluish/green head pattern is possible, if very discreet. If it jumps
out at you (I know this is subjective) and is striking, then it isn't
veijita. We had an importation of a fish sold as veijita a few years ago
with entirely blue/green marbled heads. They were pretty, but not
veijas. The misidentification, if it's the same, is interesting. 
Try Linke's Dwarf Cichlids, American Cichlids 1, tetra Press, for good
photos, if you can get it (run up to the rack in the petshop and look
fast!)
- -Gary