A little ID help

[root3]

I'm fairly new to keeping apistos, and brand new to this forum. The other day, I picked up what looks like a pair of A. borellii from a local store. (At least that's what I got from surfing the web--the store had no idea since they had been dropped off by someone who didn't want them any more.)

I've attached a few photos. I was wondering if some veterans wouldn't mind helping a neophyte out with an ID.

Greetings, and thanks

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
You'll have to wait for some-one to give you a more definitive ID, but they look more like A. "Pebas".

cheers Darrel

 

[themountain]

Thats definitely no borelli..its amazing how wrong some stores put out their merchandize :/

 

[Mike Wise]

I think Darrel is correct. It looks like A. sp. Pebas. Both look like males, BTW.

 

[root3]

Darrel & Mike--Comparing pictures of A. "Pebas" and my fish, I'd say you're right. Thanks!

That's unfortunate that they're not a pair. I just guessed (theme developing here) from the body size difference and the fact that they don't seem to mind each other's company. Out of curiosity, what are you looking at in the smaller one that makes you think it's a male?

themountain--in the store's defense, they made no claim that they were even apistos--just that someone dropped them off last week and that they seemed healthy. That being said, looking at the aquarium trade generally, I agree with you that stores here could improve on mis-identification and confusing trade names.

 

[Mike Wise]

Being a eunotus-complex species, females should show deep black anterior ventral fin rays. The body should show no blue, but dirty white to yellow and the dark marking would be more pronounced (not hidden behind the metallic blue color of a male). Females will have blunt tips on the dorsal & anal fins and the caudal will be patternless.

 

[root3]

Appreciate the info Mike