Apistogramma nijsseni

[benetay]

Seen quite a few of the previous posting regarding A.nijsseni so i decided to give all of you guys some solid information on this particular sp.

Informations are taken off from the so call "black book" which is titled South america dwarf cichlids.

Remarks
The eight specimens collected by De Rham in october, 1977 in peru were without exception females. As at the time of the description about form and colouration of male specimens nothing was known, another collecting trip by the same collector in August/September 1981 could bring clarity. It was expressed in a detailed aricle which de Rham & Kullander published in 1983. Therein, besides others the uthors propose the trivial name >panda Dwarf Cidhlis< which is easy to maintain.

Distribution
In the beginning it was assumed that the species was spread exclusively in a relatively limited area in the bed of the Rio Ucayali(province Loreto/peru) along the road/course from Jenaro Herrera(Rio Ucayali) to colonia Angamos (TIo Yavari - Quebrada Copal, Quebrada Carahuayte), about 14km from the first mentioned town. There, these specimens occur together with A.agassizii (red form), Aequidens/bujurquina species as well as with representatives of the genus Laetacara (L.Fluviatilis).

Due to newer imports, it has meanwhile to be supposed that A.nij inhabits a distribution range that is much bigger. Obviously, its distribution aslo overlaps with A.cacatuoides as well as some of the still undescribed species that were introduced recently.

Habitat
The clear rust to dark brown water is rich in humine acids and therefore the values measured in consecutive years(1981/1983) by de Rham as well as by Linke & Staeck are as follows: water temperature 25 to 27.5 degree celcius, total and carbonate hardness <1*d, conductivity 3 to 27.5uS, pH value 5.4 to 5.6 and oxygen 6.45ppm. The data is Kuster(1991) is similar: 15*S,pH value 5.5, total and carbonate hardness <1*d and a water temperature of 25*c

The habitats that are knee deep to about 1m, where the water has a slight current, are in the area of a forer rainforest whose existence is threatened by many clearages. The sandy bottom are covered with lots of foliage, branches and twigs. Crayfish in vatious phases can be found. As in black water mosquito larvae do not develop easily, small and average sized fish preferably feed from crayfish.

SD and colouration
A.nij belongs to the most beautiful Dwarf Cichlids, a statement not only referring to the males, but aslo to the females, specimens that have such patterns of big black blotches on the fill covers and on the centre of the flanks, cannot be found in any other South american Dwarf Cihlid. The basic yellow body colouration of the females is intensified during the courting and breeding period. The equally intense black colouration forms the markings of the anterior dorsal and anal fin rays as well as the caudal blotch, these are all visible in the common colour pattern. During the courting preocedure, the black blotches can occasionally turn over into green enamel-like iridescent tones.
The big hefty males show yellowish to brass yellow tones on the throat,breast and belly. The posterior part of the body can be covered by a blue glimmer. The dorsal fin has a staight edge. The second to fourth membrane show the beginnings of a slight extension. Contraty to that, the anal fin rather, shows the yellowish colouration of the ventral and breast part. This is similar for the ventral fins. The caudal fin which is rounded at its posterior edge means the colour attraction of this species: The caudal blotch is followed by a pale yellow zone in which the fin rays shimmer iridecently. The marginal seam is intensely orange red; then there is a sooty black submarginal band.
In offspring specimens the colours glimmer less intensely and the extended parts of the fins are searched for in vain.
There are various colour forms. Some local varieties are no longer yellow in both sexes; a dirty grey brown is rather dominant. But hobbyists considered these vatiesties le

[roy]

Ben, you definitely deserved the Jane Goodall award [] You're the man!

Cheers,
Roy

[danny1]

Any available for sale?

[Simon]

Danny, Pet safari.. but they r on the high side

[danny1]

Thanks Simon. I was there earlier this week and only saw a few left and not many to choose from. Would have to wait for new shippment.

[roy]

Simon, you didn't mention H2O.

Danny, check H2O out. They've got many varieties to choose from and priced cheaper than Pet Safari.

[Simon]

apart for a sick one, H2O got no more njisenni.. u might wanna try Toh.. hopefully those he bred is big enuff for sale

[danny1]

Tried H2O as well, and the sick ones are all dead. Will probably go over to Toh's place tomorrow afternoon to check it out.