Is this fish Apistogramma hippolytae?

[Calilasseia]

During the never ending search for colour photos of new and rare Apistogramma species as an aid to tracking down the live fishes, I alighted upon an unusual image. Namely :



which the photographer claimed to be an image of Apistogramma hippolytae.

However, it does NOT resemble the image of the same species that The Cichlid Room itself displays on the relevant page.

Any idea what this fish is? Only I find it compelling to look at, whatever it's identity may turn out to be, and it's become another of my 'Wish List' Apistogramma species alongside the yet to be imported angayuara

Here, by the way, is the website from which the fish was found:

http://gwsphotos.com/assets/AllSpecies.html

[Pam Chin]

Hey Cal,

When I am trying to figure out what a fish is I have found a couple of interesting ways. You can always google it, but I love the google image feature where you get actual pictures. It is a reflection of how you can't really take everything you read online for fact. When you can see 6 - 12 photo's that are on the internet at one time, you can see that some photo's are obviously different. Then you can take your research a bit further, and check your species on fishBase (http://www.fishbase.org/search.php?lang=English ) and hopefully it will confirm which photo's you have found are correct.

Next you go to a forum that is reliable, and where people who are experts frequent it, and offer info about the group of cichlids you are researching . Not everyone agrees on everything, and at some point you have to pick the side you want to follow.

Now to get your question, sorry it looks like I went a little sideways! I have no idea if the picture you have posted is indeed the fish they have claimed it to be. When googled, your photo doesn't match the other photo's at all. On FishBase, the entry on this species is by the guy that actually described it, while that would seem a valid source, it still may not be, especially if there has been some recent research done. Next I would post it on a couple Apisto friendly sites and see what that turns up...

http://www.cichlidae.info/phpBB2/index.php

http://www.apistogramma.com

http://www.thekrib.com

My gut reaction is no, based on a brief look at these areas, but if not then what is it?? That is the fun of fishkeeping! And I hope that you can eventually figure it out!