Female Apistogramma Trifasciata

[sswm]

Hey everyone,

I bought this pair as apistogramma trifasciata, just wanting to make sure that the female is indeed one

Here she is

 

[Tea]

Im sorry but this fish is not A. trifaciata.

 

[sswm]

just contacted the store bought from and here is the full name...Apistogramma trifasciata Maciliensis

does that make any difference in the female id?

 

[gerald]

Looks more like a species from the eunotus or macmasteri groups, definitely not a trifasciata type.

I like your dark gray sand. Is it cat litter, or if not then where did you get it?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

macmasteri

or close would be my guess as well.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

I agree: a macmasteri-group species (probably A. macmasteri) female. All A. trifasciata will show a diagonal stripe running from the pectoral fin to the anus.

BTW 'A. trifasciatum maciliense' is not recognized as a subspecies anymore. It's only a population (if that). Fish like the original specimens of this form have never been commercially imported. The closest to it, of which I've seen photos, were some collected from a lake in Bolivia by Jeff Cardwell about 8 years ago. Two fish are sold commercially as "A. t. maciliensis": A. erythrura and A. cf. trifasciata (Guaporé).

 

[sswm]

Thanks for the replies everyone, have been a big help

Gerald - I'm using Seachem Flourite Black Sand as the substrate

 

[sswm]

Good News

Went back to the store and got the female replaced with this one!

 

[gerald]

Ahh - much better! There's that third (tri-) stripe (-fasciata).

 

[Mike Wise]

Can you get more females? I ask because the fish in the photo has rather long ventral fins for a female - and the dorsal isn't exactly what I'd expect, either. Besides, A. trifasciata is a species that is best kept as a harem.

 

[sswm]

Unfortunatley this was the last female they had...the owner said they do get them in whenever they make orders, so I will keep my eye out for the next order and try and add another female