A. mendezi or A.paucisquamis?!

[Heidge]

Hi,

I got this fish lost in a million Dicrossus filamentosus and I have some doubt on what he really is.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/pfab015d3b72a47033848dfa8595b21bc/f9def807.jpg

Could anyone help me on this?

Best reguards,

 

[fishboy20]

Looks like a bitaeniata to me. Still a little young but could be those other species as well I suppose.

 

[fideltagamma]

It seems the same to me, bitaeniata.

But I don't really know the others.

FDG

 

[Neil]

Heidge,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Well, you sure are starting out with a toughie.
I don't think that this is a bitaeniata. Unfortunately, the similarities of paucisquamis and mendezi are many. Mendezi is known to have several(at least 2) distinct forms and are differentiated by distribution and caudal markings. Horizontal marking in eastern distribution locations and vertical in western distribution ranges. Normally paucisquamis was thought to be distinguished from mendezi by the vertical caudal markings(rows of golden spots), but specimens from the western part of mendezis distribution range are very difficult to distinguish from paucisquamis because of the similarity of vertical caudal markings. Yours look to have vertical markings.

If I were guess, I would say paucisquamis. But, that is all it would be. It might be helpful to have a clearer picture or pictures to distinguish some of the other black markings and spangling. Paucisquamis seems to have spangles on the posterior portion of the anal fin, where mendezi doesn't (I think!).

Neil

 

[Fisherking]

My guess is also paucisquamis. I had this problem a year ago. Mendezi have shorter ventral fins. And paucisquamis is more slender then mendezi. There are many diffrenses if you reed the literaure on apistogramma.

 

[Heidge]

Thanks all! :lol:

A.bitaeniata doesn´t seems to look like this.

I agree with you Neil. It could be A.paucisquamis because for the black marking above the lateral line. Mendezis have more than one. And the caudal with spots...

Well, I will soon post more pictures of this fish, like others that I have here.

Thanks for the lesson on discriminating those species.

See you soon,

 

[kribs]

I agree with neil. I have had these fish and i still have one female left.

 

[Charly EON]

paucisquamis no doubt

I've also found paucisquamis as contaminant in dicrossus or even sometimes cardinals

Charly