Re: A.nijsseni

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

Darren J. Hanson wrote:
> 
> > My question is has anyone seen a female nijsseni before
> > with simialr markings.  There was another female in the
> > tank with markings the same.
> Ken, do you know that the LFS you bought them from know the difference
> in dwarf cichlids? Are you sure they are actually nijsseni females? I
> have had them in the past and none of them had the stripe. They all had
> the large blotch.
> 
> JMO
> 
> Kaycy

Hi all,
There are weird things in njisseni-land these days. I know I had a
posting a few years ago on the list about 'Gary's weird pandurini', so I
may get a bad rep for questioning what I have here without being able to
provide photos, but it's interesting.
I have a wild njisseni pair now, guarding wrigglers. Everything (head
shape, finnage, overall patterning) says njisseni but there's no
greenish side blotch on the female. In the past, my captive-bred
njisseni females always had that.
They came from a Peruvian shipment that was 2/3 panduro, some of which
were oddly coloured in their own right. 
There are a huge number of colour gradations in these fish. I don't know
if the variations are individual or population based, mixed in the wild
or thrown together at the exporters, or (and I like this idea...) maybe
the collectors are ranging farther in the hunt for these fish, and
trying new habitats. It's all speculation, but it's confusing and darned
fun to look at.
It might be interesting if, when we're lucky enough to see wild
shipments, we could report to the list on what we're seeing in terms of
variation within this relatively recently discovered complex.
-Gary


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!