Apistogramma sp. "Abacaxis"

[Ricardo]

Males of Apistogramma sp. "Rio Abacaxis". Unfortunately I don't have females.

Apistogramma sp. "Abacaxis" A227

Apistogramma sp. "Abacaxis" A228

 

[merlin]

I am not familiar with this species. No 1 is a great looking fish. No 2 looks completly different Are they from distinctly different areas. When were these discovered?

Derek

 

[Mike Wise]

You probably know it as "A. wilhelmi", a terrible name. That name makes it appear to be a scientifically described species, which it is not! "A. sp. Abacaxis", at least, indicates that it is an undescribed species and that it is found in the Rio Abacaxis (A227). Horst Linke and Mario Wilhelm collected A227 in 1999 and Linke introduced it into the hobby as 'A. sp. "Wilhelmi" (sadly abbreviated by others soon afterward). "A. cf. sp. Abacaxis (Marimari)" (A228) is found in the nearby Rio Marimari, both in Brazil. It (A228) was imported into Japan in 2002 as "A. pulchra from Marimari" There is little difference between the 2 forms, other than the pattern in the caudal fin. They are probably only populations of the same species.

 

[Ricardo]

Mike, thank by explication. Both populations were being sold in the same batch of fish.

 

[FIL]

I breed a pair of wild species who are sold me under the name Apistogramma sp. "rio Abacaxis." Here's a photo:

Do you think that is the A227 form because the pattern in the caudal fin seems to resemble the shape A228 (DATZ).

Thank you in advance

Nicolas

 

[Mike Wise]

Ricardo, I am not surprised about the mix of populations. Collecting stations/exporters probably mixed fish from more than one collector. The forms easily interbreed (for this species). I had to do this when I only had males of A228 and females of A227. The resulting males had both and intermediate caudal patterns.

Nicolas, I cannot be certain about your male. The body (and lateral band) is too pale. On A227 the lateral band extends only slightly beyond the root of the caudal; on A228 the lateral band extends farther into the caudal.

 

[FIL]

Ok, here are some more pictures with the female. I will try to redo the photos.

https://picasaweb.google.com/113605...rammaSpRioAbacaxis?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

[Mike Wise]

It looks like A227 to me. The lateral band does not extend very far into the caudal.

 

[Ricardo]

Interesting story about reproduction of A228 and A227 you performed Mike,

Thanks

 

[Mike Wise]

Crossing forms/populations is something I personally try to avoid if at all possible. Sometimes, with rarely available fish, it is necessary. I see nothing really wrong with mixing populations/forms if they are the same species. I just don't like to do it if at all possible.