What is 'German-grade' Apistogramma?

[barmby]

To me, it is just apisto that has eaten color tablets. That is why their coloration is so full

[doppelbanddwarf]

For me, if possible I would prefer to know whether it is wild caught or where it is bred etc.
Lets say I get a pair of agassizii, so if I know the pair is wild, they are almost definitely not siblings and no inbreeding would occur. But if they are from a farm, most probably they could be siblings from the same batch, and furtehr inbreeding could produce deformed fish, lousier colours etc.

[iwishweallcouldwin]

then it depends on the purpose of buying the fish, are you keeping it for viewing purposes like illumnae's current tefe pair or breeding it? also, regarding the origins of the fishes, it ultimately depends a lot on how reliable the suppliers are as well.

which is why i said that ultimately, it boils down to how attracted you are to the fish which you wish to purchase. if you are particular about inbreeding, which is definitely a very good trait to begin with for all hobbyists, then acquiring good wild caught specimens would be considered your regret-less buy despite the cost, since it gives you a form of assurance and personal satisfaction.

but if you do not have such deep pockets, or are not willing to overspend on your fishes, or do not see a need to get exotic pieces just to satisfy your fishy poisoning (which is, admit it guys, pretty impossible over time), just getting a farm bred piece would be good enough for you, and at the end of the day it will still be an equally regret-less and satisfying (german grade) buy for the owner! that being said, not all farm bred pieces are considered to be of sub standard quality!

hence be it german or non german, wild or non wild, as long as the fish you purchase meets all of your personal requirements, i do not see why you should not get it! unless of course there are external factors like the lack of tank spaces or COs/OCs at home who vehemently object to more additions to the already overcrowded family that is.

[illumnae]

that's why i say clint, my newly suggested form of grading is excellent nice apisto, not nice apisto and wild apisto. simple, easy and non-discriminatory. this will appease the thread starter and others who have condemned the use of a country to judge standards by i believe! (my personal opinion though, is still that wilhelm grade, german grade and farm bred are very excellent terms to use)

[iwishweallcouldwin]

haha frankly speaking, talking about nice and wild caught apistos, ever since viewing the picture of wilhelm's red bellied eliza posted by genes, that's all my mind's thinking of at the moment. but alas, 500 bucks is way off haha... if the price is halved i can still consider...

[illumnae]

haha i know how you feel. i've been dreaming about that elizabethae since last year. i'll be getting a pair when my apisto rack goes up. centrepiece fish!

[ccs]

For me if i were to breed the fish i would prefer wild fish. But if i am not going to breed them i don't mind keeping these "German grade" fish. But in any case shouldn't the original look be the top grade of the fish?But this is just my humble opinion.