The Krib Apistogramma/Dwarf Cichlids	[E-mail]

Apistogramma Identification Worksheet

by Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise/bewellnet.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999

[This text was edited from a larger message Mike sent to the Apisto Mailing List -- Editor.] If anyone wants me to try and ID a fish I'll need as much information as possible. We need some standardized terms. I recommend everyone refer to the diagrams shown here and use these terms when describing features. [Editor's note: these diagrams try to represent a composite of all the major distinguishing features of Apistogramma species in a compact space. These are not actual species!]

Drawings by Erik Olson

Try to answer as many of the following questions as possible:

Source:

• What was it called when you got it?
• Was it wild caught or domestic?
• What other fish (if any) - not just the cichlids - came in the shipment with it?

Size:

• How large is it? (Use inches or metric, it doesn't matter to me.)
• Does it appear to be an adult or a juvenile?

Body shape:

• Name a species that has a similar body shape.
• Is it deep (high) bodied & laterally compressed (like A. macmasteri)?
• Is it elongate and slightly compressed (like A. cacatuoides)? or
• Is it elongate and fusiform (like A. pertensis)?

Male's dorsal fin size and shape:

• Name a species with a similar fin shape.
• Is it high or low?
• Does it have any extended spines?
• Is the back tip extended (at least as far back as mid-caudal)?
• Is the top edge even (like A. agassizii)?
• Is the top edge serrated (saw edged) (like A. macmasteri) ?
• Is the top edge fused together, sail-like, (like A. pertensis)? or
• Does the top have extended front spiny lappets (like A. cacatuoides)?

Lateral spot:

• Does either sex, especially the female, show a dark lateral spot or patch on its side?
• If so, is it very large or nearly the same width as the lateral band?

Lateral band: (usually better seen on females):

• What other species has a similar band?
• Is it broad (like A. agassizii)?
• Is it narrow (like A. steindachneri)?
• Is it broken into spots or a continuous band?
• If continuous, is it straight & even (like A. agassizii)?
• Is it zipper like (like A. sp. Rotpunkt/Red-spot)? or
• Is it zigzag shape (like A. borellii & A. macmasteri)?

Caudal (peduncle) spot:

• Is there a spot/patch at the base of the tail?
• If so, describe its size and shape.
• Does the lateral band merge with it or stop before it gets to it?

Tail (male's):

• What other species has a similarly shaped tail?
• What shape is it? round, squared off in the back, spade shaped or lyretailed?
• Are there any extended tips on the top and bottom in the male?
• Are there any any spots or pattern in the tail fin?

Finally, list the dwarf cichlid books you have so that I can refer you to certain pictures.

	Up to Apistogramma/Dwarf Cichlids The Krib	This page was last updated 23 June 1999