Ap Nijsseni + Kuhlii + Swordtail?

[Wildor]

I have bought my first pair of Apistogramma Nijsseni. My tank is 200 liters and I have tried creating a nice "Apistogramma environment" with roots, coconut caves, a lot of plants etc.

The two fish seem to have settled in fine. The female has chosen a specifik coconut cave and is shaking her body in front of the male a lot. They seem to be accepting eachother as a couple and maybe they want to spawn?

I wonder if the Kuhlii eels might eat their eggs though? And can they defent fry from 8 curious and pushy swordtails do you think? These are the inhabitants of the tank since many years... I also have a population of Endlers, but I think these are no problem for the Nijsseni (?).One Ancistrus got to see herself removed from the tank into my sons aquarium since I cought her snooping in the cave that the Nijsseni female had chosen. Am I right that Ancistrus won´t work if I would like to have fry from the Nijsseni?

I have thoughts if I could buy some more Nijsseni - males/females? Or will I only create trouble? Am I getting too eager? (my tank is 120 cm long)

More tips and tricks? Thanks!

 

[Mike Wise]

It is possible that the Kuhli Loaches will leave the eggs alone, but I doubt it. Kuhlies are active at night. It's also possible that the A. nijsseni will kill some of the loaches that try. What you have is a community tank. A community tank is not a (suitable) breeding tank. If you want to breed your A. nijsseni, then remove the other fish. Otherwise, keep it a community tank and see if everything works out well or not.

 

[Wildor]

Thankyou so much for the answer. I can see where this Apistogramma interest is going. First you buy your first pair and insert them in your first community tank "fish soup". Then suddenly nothing matters but the Apistos and you start giving away fish to everyone that wants them!

But for now - no, breeding them is not that important. But it WOULD be cool though, if I only once could see them come out with a little cloud of fry. I dont mind if all the fry would be eaten after a few days though. Do you think this could happen in my community set up? Even if I re-insert the poor Ancistrus, that is now put in a very small tank suitable for guppy fry only (I feel sorry for her).

But I have now dreams for a future, proper Apisto tank, with maybe a harem or two trios of Ap Borelli. Would my tank dimensions be suiatable for this dream in the future?

About the Kuhliis. It would surprise me if the Nijsseni will kill them. They are so big - 12 cm long and thick as a thumb. They are about five years old. I was trying to research this about Apisto vs Kuhlii before with Google, and somebody suggested that the Apistos would mistake the Kuhliis for worms and try and eat them. Well, it depends on the size of the Kuhli I think

 

[Mike Wise]

Wow! Those are monster size Kuhlis. Yes, it is possible that your cichlids can kill them, but I doubt it. The loach's eye spines are a good defense. Still, A. nijsseni is a rather aggressive apisto and probably will make life miserable for any fish that comes near their territory. If you aren't interested in producing fry then re-assemble your community and see how it goes. The pleco will probably make 'short work' of any eggs laid if it can get into the cave.