Apistogramma Algodon II pair & their one day old fry

[sonaj1930]

I am not 100% certain that this pair is really A. Algodon II. Maybe they are A. Papagei or A. Algodon I ? I hope Mr Wise will help with the definite identification.
For quite sometime these two Apistos did not differ from each other. As it turned out they suspected female was really a girl. They spawned after being together for a couple of weeks in a 120L tank divided into two.
The fry were free swimming after 7 days. I feed them with BBS 2 or 3 times a day and change approx. 30% of water every 2-3 days.
Temperature of water was 26-28 degrees. PH:5.4 - 5.6, TDS: 50-65ppm, GH: < 1 deg. I tred to keep Nitrate level between 10 -15 ppm.
They turned out to be a beautiful couple. Interestingly the male has grown larger as the female coloured up over the past few weeks. They are peaceful and they seem to be very good parents. I kept them together for six or seven weeks.
Below are a few photos for you to enjoy. Apologies for thr poor quality of photos.

Courting…….






Courting and feeding on bloodworms



Her free swimming brood. First day.





"Father" looking after his "offsprings"

 

[Mike Wise]

The original A. sp. Algodon I was what we now call A. sp. Papagei. The original A. sp. Algodon II is what we now call A. sp. Putumayo from the Río Algodon. Now, the name "A. sp. Algodon", whether form I or II, is a commercial name for a mix of species from the Río Ampiyacu in Peru. Based on the dark markings on the female in brood dress and the caudal fin pattern on the male, I would say that these are A. sp. Pebas.

 

[sonaj1930]

Many thanks Mike. So I have A. sp Pebas.
Regards
John