What is this Apistogramma?

[cjerrom]

My exporter has these so called Apistogramma frontier (bitaeniata frontier) so let me know what they really are as they look interesting! I just have to buy 150 to get the whole batch!

Origin - Peru - Frontier region
Wild caught male - adult

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, A. bitaeniata. The 'Frontier region' is probably the border area between Peru and Ecuador. BTW the fish in my avatar is A. bitaeniata from the Río Tigre. I'm not saying this fish and yours are the same, but the seem to be similarly colored.

 

[cjerrom]

I thought it looked familiar but I never want to assume until I hear from the experts. Apistogramma's are new territory for me but I have found a way to acclimatize them quickly to hard water (450-600 TDS) with pH of 7.8 -8.2 with less than 1-2% death. One of the things I enjoy most about importing is the bycatch!! Ask Bart.
I appreciate your expertise as you are well known in this area.

 

[gerald]

The problems with keeping obligate soft-water fish in hard water is more about long-term health, spawning and egg development. Most species don't show any short-term adverse effects to hard water, from what i've seen.

QUOTE="cjerrom, post: 103175, member: 15875"]Apistogramma's are new territory for me but I have found a way to acclimatize them quickly to hard water (450-600 TDS) with pH of 7.8 -8.2 with less than 1-2% death. [/QUOTE]