we have a problem at the netherlands forum!

[patrick1]

we have a real discussion for apistogramma sp. opal!

1 man says that apistogramma sp. opal is a different species then the borellii

i think that apistogramma sp. opal are family of the borellii who wants to help?

regards patrick

 

[cootwarm]

A while back, I was told that "opal" was a captive bred color morph of the borellii.

Michael

 

[P.W.]

Hi

The common "yellow/ blue Borellii and the Opal Borellii are just two colour strains. Since the Borellii is a highly polychromated species you can find both colour strains at the very same collecting site in nature.
Altough the Opal coloured males are said to be more common in the south of the distribution area (?).
There are also some geographical differences within the yellow/blue strain also. The fishes collected in the Rio Uruguay area have sometimes a beautiful ochra-yellow coloration of the head.

In the early eighties a lot of people beleived that the Opal was a separate species. And the Opals were line breed in former DDR. So the Opal colour strain became quite stabile. (Opals did only produce opal coloured frys when spawning)

The females of the different colour strains are identical. So you will never know what strains they belong to.

So, the answer is that the "Opal" is not a separate species, or sub-species. It´s just a natural colour-strain which is also very common in the nature!

Best regards/ Per