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A. elizabethae with T.candidi in one tank?

zmirek

Member
5 Year Member
Messages
39
Location
Szczecin, Poland
Hi,

Recenty I have aquired a group of A. elizabethae (tank bred). I've ordered 3 males + 3 females and it seems that I've got what I want.

The same time I've also got same group of elizabethae and 2 pairs of T.candidi for my friend. This is 1st time I can look on candidi and (despite of their small but "sexable" size) they are really nice. They were always on my wish list so I've started to think about setting-up a tank that will house both species together. Till now I thought that this is black water species but I've found in CA1 that this is clearwater one. That is why it seems that keeping them together in one tank is not good idea.

I know that morphologically both species are very similar even if there are significant differences in general look.

Despite of it I'd like to know your opinions about such "combination" beacuse maybe I am not right in my conclusions

All your thoughts are very welcome.

Best regards
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
If the tank is very large, it is possible. For breeding, however, they require different conditions. A. elizabethae is best bred in 0º dH & <pH5 water @ 26ºC/79ºF. T. candidi, however, breeds in moderately soft water, a pH~5.5 @ 29ºC/84ºF.
 

Fatts

Member
5 Year Member
Messages
144
Location
Abingdon, MD
I'm by no means one to argue with Mike, but I have a pair of T. candidi and a pair of A. elizabethae in a 20L (gal) and both pair have wigglers. I put them in there about 3 weeks ago as a "holding" tank before I traded them away, of course they thought it was the perfect time to spawn.

Water conditions are EC~40, PH ~5.5. I mix RO/DI with tap and add a little peat to get these numbers.
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Most people can't get A. elizabethae to successfully reproduce at pH >5. It probably has something to do with bacteria in the water (less in very acidic water). It is even possible to breed many blackwater species in pH values above 6 if the water is relatively sterile.
 

yob17

New Member
5 Year Member
Messages
20
Location
France
I don't know that "it is even possible to breed many blackwater species in pH values above 6 if the water is relatively sterile".
You can most explain Mike ?

thank you
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
It seems that blackwater species have adapted to waters with very low bacterial numbers, due to the highly acid water. In theses biotopes fungi replace bacteria in breaking down organics. This lack of bacteria tends to make them more suseptable to bacterial diseases in the aquarium - and their eggs, too. If the water is relatively free from bacteria, then some of the eggs will develop. Ingo Koslowski has bred many blackwater species in his local tap water, which is moderately hard. He acidifies it to around pH 6. Such spawns are very small, however.
 

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