• Hello guest! Are you an Apistogramma enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Apisto enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your fish and tanks and have a great time with other Apisto enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Cacatuoides ID and sexing help

toryerp

New Member
Messages
4
This is my first apisto, he was sold to me as a cacatuoides double red male, unsure of the age but he's about 2 inches long total and I've had him a week. I believe he is indeed a male because of the longer spikes at the front of his dorsal fin, but would like your all's input in confirming this. But I'm wondering is he really a double red? He has that one spot on his tail but otherwise he seems to be starting to color up orange. Could he be an orange flash? Or is he just still getting his coloring? If y'all think he's a double red, when should I expect to see more color? Currently he's alone in quarantine
IMG_9649.jpeg
IMG_9678.jpeg
IMG_9650.jpeg
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Your cacatuoides is not a Double-red specimen. It looks more like wild caught specimens that I have collected in Peru and Colombia. That being said, it might be a throw-back from a Double-red strain. I doubt that it will show more red spots, but the orange color can be enhanced somewhat by adding more color-enhancing foods.
 

toryerp

New Member
Messages
4
Your cacatuoides is not a Double-red specimen. It looks more like wild caught specimens that I have collected in Peru and Colombia. That being said, it might be a throw-back from a Double-red strain. I doubt that it will show more red spots, but the orange color can be enhanced somewhat by adding more color-enhancing foods.
Thank you, Mike! That's disappointing since I was hoping for some color from him, but I'm already attached lol. He is a little picky about food, so that would make sense that he's wild caught. Is there any difference in their care and/or temperament if they're wild caught? If I (eventually) got another cacatuoides that's tank bred and more colorful, do you think they'd do alright together / would it make any difference?
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
A cacatuoides is a cacatuoides, just like a blonde person is a human just like a redhead. The only difference is basically the color of their hair. There is little difference in water requirements or behavior between wild and domestic forms of cacatuoides. Your cacatuoides may or may not be a wild specimen. Apistos can be picky eaters whether wild or domestic. Genetics can be interesting. Adding a color strain to the mix probably will add color to their offspring.
 

toryerp

New Member
Messages
4
A cacatuoides is a cacatuoides, just like a blonde person is a human just like a redhead. The only difference is basically the color of their hair. There is little difference in water requirements or behavior between wild and domestic forms of cacatuoides. Your cacatuoides may or may not be a wild specimen. Apistos can be picky eaters whether wild or domestic. Genetics can be interesting. Adding a color strain to the mix probably will add color to their offspring.
Gotcha. Thank you Mike for the info, much appreciated!
 

Sowah

Member
Messages
41
Your cacatuoides is not a Double-red specimen. It looks more like wild caught specimens that I have collected in Peru and Colombia. That being said, it might be a throw-back from a Double-red strain. I doubt that it will show more red spots, but the orange color can be enhanced somewhat by adding more color-enhancing foods.
It could be a wc F1 or F2, I’m not entirely sure. It looks more orange than normal wc species tho, different areas of collection may show different colouration
 

yukondog

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
664
Location
N.W. Fl.
All my males have that orange spot, but he is to dark to compare to the ones I have. I like the wc or wild form myself.
 

toryerp

New Member
Messages
4
It could be a wc F1 or F2, I’m not entirely sure. It looks more orange than normal wc species tho, different areas of collection may show different colouration
He is getting more orange in his fins now. Nothing like the bright colors of the selectively bred ones but definitely some color. So not sure if he's wild caught or just wild type, and I'll probably never know lol
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
17,916
Messages
116,204
Members
13,028
Latest member
JaconieMalonie

Latest profile posts

Josh wrote on anewbie's profile.
Testing
EDO
Longtime fish enthusiast for over 70years......keen on Apistos now. How do I post videos?
Looking for some help with fighting electric blue rams :(
Partial updated Peruvian list have more than this. Please PM FOR ANY QUESTIONS so hard to post with all the ads poping up every 2 seconds….
Top