Re: Fwd: Help me ID Fish, A.hippolytae perhaps?

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

David,

It sounds like A. hippolytae alright, but I've never seen an apisto with a
"golden amber colored lateral band". A. hippolytae doesn't have abdominal
stripes, either. Both of these features on apisto are normally dark chocolate
brown to black. I assume you mean that the area above the lateral band is
amber colored and the abdominal region has turquoise colored scales. This is
normal on A. hippolytae, especially when they are in their preferred water
conditions. A. hippolytae is found in the lower tributaries of the Rio Negro,
Igarapés entering into Lago (Lake) Manacapuru on the Rio Solimões west of
Manaus, and in the Rio Tefé. These are blackwater biotopes. A. hippolytae can
live in more normal water conditions, but shows best in peat stained water
with a pH <6, dGH<3º, and 0ºdKH. I found them to be wonderful fish. The males
"fight" for territory using side-by-side lateral flaring of their fins that
turn deep red-black, tail slapping, and finally face-to-face gill flaring.
When gill flaring, the cheek stripe shrinks to a dark patch on the outer edge
of the operula, like that seen on Thorichthys meeki (Firemouth Cichlid). This
gives the the illusion of being a giant head with a large eye. I've never seen
males damage each other in the battles. Males are what I call casually
polygamous. They try to aquire harems, but are happy with one female. They
don't bother females very much. Breeding requires slightly more extreme
conditions. My experience is that the eggs will not hatch until the pH drops
below 5.5 with the same low hardness values listed above. Once these values
are met, a fully mature female can have broods of 150 - 200 fry! They are
excellent mothers, keeping everything away from their fry. The fry are easy to
raise on baby brine shrimp and powder foods.

Mike Wise


> Subject: Help me ID Fish, A.hippolytae perhaps?
> Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 22:14:57 -0800 (PST)
> From: David Sanchez <barbax2@yahoo.com>
> To: Apisto list <apisto@majordomo.pobox.com>
>
> Hi Guys
>
> Hey Mike the fish we talked about earlier this week I
> beleive is A.hippolytae. I think it's color threw me
> off, as all the pictures I have ever seen showed a
> rather drab fish. Though they are no A.hongsloi, but
> they are rather handsome fellows. ( I must however
> admit I have never found an Apisto i didn't like :])
>
> It has a high backed body shape, a rounded caudel fin
> with vertical stripes. It has a distinct caudel spot.
> It has a golden amber colored lateral band with a very
> distinct lateral spot that touches the dorsal fin. The
> lateral spot is surrounded by a golden amber color. It
> has some turqouise colored abdominal stripes. It has a
> fair amount of yellow in the fins. I know they are
> coming out of brazil and were brought in with some
> A.pertensis and T.candidi. Just wanted to be sure. I
> have never had them before , if they are A.hippolytae,
> has anyone had any experiences with them? I would
> appreciate any info on them.
>
> Anyway I brought them home because they were with the
> candidi's and heck they looked like they needed a good
> home.
>
> ===
>
> David Sanchez
> Casselberry, FL
> http://www.mindspring.com/~barbax
> barbax2@yahoo.com
> _________________________________________________________
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