Uaupes/Vaupes Biotope

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Hi, just looking for some help on stocking ideas for a 10 or 20 gallon rio vaupes biotope, tetra species, apistos, cories, and loricariids. Thanks!

 

[KenL]

Go for 20 minimum rather than 10.

 

[MacZ]

On fishbase.se (scientific fish species database) you can search by river system.

And here you can do a "search in page" for the Apistos from that river system:

Welcome to Toms Homepage

Little addition: 60liters/10gal will only work as a breeding tank, so 80/20 it should be, then you can add tetras (and only a single male dwarf cichlid, if you are not going to breed anyway). Corydoracoid and (non-nocturnal like Rineloricaria sp.) loricarid catfish can be added from 80-100cm tank length upwards.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

okay good to know. In terms of filtration, do any of you here run filterless setups with floating and riparian plants? From my understanding true blackwater tanks tend to have some low kind of filtration so I was wondering if that’s achievable(correct me if i’m wrong). Also, I have peat that i’m most likely to use, would it be better to have a layer of peat above the sand or below the sand?

 

[MacZ]

Don't go filterless, many tried, all that reported results didn't get it to work. Ideal for a biotope setup is an external filter with a prefilter sponge on the intake. Least work maintaining this.
If you want to use peat use it in a mesh bag in the background. Never put it underneath the sand. If any sprinkle some on the sand but rather get leaf litter to decompose on the sand.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Sounds good. And just to be sure, breeding isn’t really a reality if I were to put them with any corydoras right? I’ve heard it can work with some characins but not much abt any catfish.

 

[anewbie]

Sounds good. And just to be sure, breeding isn’t really a reality if I were to put them with any corydoras right? I’ve heard it can work with some characins but not much abt any catfish.

In general cory are not good for their health because their behavior can stress them. It is of course worse when breeding or guarding a territory.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

okay perfect thank you. I’ve found a seller with two apistogramma uaupesi, although they are not listed as male or female. I’ve emailed them to ask for pictures, but i wanted to ask for any tips because i can’t find much info on keeping this species of apisto.

 

[MacZ]

And just to be sure, breeding isn’t really a reality if I were to put them with any corydoras right?

Sorry, wrong. Any of these catfish will just be a disturbance and a female Apisto will be relentlessly trying to keep them away from her brood as these catfish are too stupid to tell they are not welcome. Additionally a female will likely claim the whole tank for herself and the brood.

The only way to prevent breeding in such a setup is not getting male and female but only one sex.

because i can’t find much info on keeping this species of apisto.

If we are absolutely honest: Almost all Apistogramma species need the same basic conditions. Soft and acidic water, sand substrate, lots of leaves and wood. That's all.
You can divide them into three (non-taxonomic!) groups: Extreme Softwater/Blackwater species (as soft and acidic as it gets plus relatively high temp usually of 25°C+), clearwater species (preferrably soft and slightly acidic water, sometimes room temp (20°C)) and domestic breeds (moderately soft and acidic with standard tropical temp).

Behaviour-wise A. borellii (extremly peaceful) and the A.-nijsseni-species group (unusual social behaviour) are the outliers, while rthe rest is pretty much identical.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Okay perfect, Looks like i’m probably just gonna do a pair and a nice group of either nannostomus, green neons, or hatchetfish

 

[anewbie]

This specific species need very soft acidic water to breed. Keeping is not so rigid.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Okok perfect, the seller gave me pictures of the individuals they have. Do you think you guys could help confirm that they really are uaupesi and that the smaller specimen is a female? Thank you.

View attachment IMG_9377.jpeg

 

[MacZ]

ID is not my expertise, but at first glance it looks not wrong.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Okay sounds good. Thank you!

 

[KenL]

Okok perfect, the seller gave me pictures of the individuals they have. Do you think you guys could help confirm that they really are uaupesi and that the smaller specimen is a female? Thank you.View attachment 17594View attachment 17595

This fish looks male to me.

 

[MacZ]

This fish looks male to me.

Because it is.

 

[Frank Hättich]

Okok perfect, the seller gave me pictures of the individuals they have. Do you think you guys could help confirm that they really are uaupesi and that the smaller specimen is a female? Thank you.

The larger fish (male) shows a caudal pattern not typical of A. uaupesi. It could be A. lineata, but from this photo alone and without knowing the catch location, it's impossible to tell for sure. The smaller fish is for sure not uaupesi because it's a macmasteri-group species.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

Oh wow okay, I wasn’t expecting that. I’ll have to wait a bit then to find another seller. If any of you know of where I could get a pair of elizabethae or uaupesi that would be much appreciated. If I can’t find any I will most likely have to just settle with dicrossus filamentosus.

 

[anewbie]

Oh wow okay, I wasn’t expecting that. I’ll have to wait a bit then to find another seller. If any of you know of where I could get a pair of elizabethae or uaupesi that would be much appreciated. If I can’t find any I will most likely have to just settle with dicrossus filamentosus.

d. filamentosus is a larger more active fish and i'd recommend a larger aquarium. If you want to ask folks if they know of a source of a fish you should mention your location or region.

For example if usa aquaticclarity has some uaupesi.

 

[PissBabyTheFourth]

You are right that’s my bad, yeah i’m from the US. And thank you I didn’t know aquaticclarity had some.