ID: Need help with "Steel Blue" female

[mikeylman]

Hey guys,

I was at my LFS and ran into a tank of "Steel Blues". They were gorgeous and I love dwarf cichlids so I decided to pickup what looked to be the best male (out of probbaly 20) and the only female.

Well - since adding them to my tank they've colored up quite nicely and do a great job "standing up" to all the others in there including RAMS, A. Cacatuoides, Keyholes and discus. Tough little guys!

The female is a BEAUTIFUL golden yellow with super black ventrals and has staked out a nice Japonica bush that she will not allow the 'male' to approach. The male doesn't seem interested in courting her even though she's obvioulsy showing colors.

I am new to Apisto keeping but from what I've read, a female in this coloration is ready to find a mate. However, if these are true "Steel Blues"... males and female are not visually sexually dimorphic (from what I've read yesterday). My female looks to me more like Inka that may have slipped into this shipment. Please see attached pics and share your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[mikeylman]

Sorry for the terrible pics but the little buggers wouldn't stay still and she spends most of her time in the Japonica bush. She came out at that time to chase the blue boy away.

 

[sumluvu1314]

You are lucky !! You got yourself a Female and male. However, it's a apisto inka 50 female and a apisto borelli steel blue male !!

 

[mikeylman]

You are lucky !! You got yourself a Female and male. However, it's a apisto inka 50 female and a apisto borelli steel blue male !!

Yes? Does that mean they are compatible? She is about the most beautiful fish I've ever had. I do feel lucky!

 

[merlin]

Compatible in what way. They are different species.

Derek

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
"Sumluvu" is correct, he is a "Steel-blue" (they have nothing to do with A. borellii, although that is often the label they are sold under), she is A. baenschi. <http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Apistogramma_sp_Steel_blue.php>

Female Steel-blue is similar to the male, but has much less/no blue on the face and goes a clear yellow, once you see a female it is quite obvious she is a female. <

> & <

>

The ones I kept were very aggressive, and also came with Camallanus worms (which may partially account for the agression).

cheers Darrel

 

[mikeylman]

Hi Darrel,

Thanks so much! Your reply was very helpful. Its certain that I'll need to go out and buy their respective mates now.

 

[merlin]

Nice video of the steel blues. Mine where behaving very much the same then came home at night and she had killed the male. Still have fry growing on but seem to be quite slow growinhg

Derek