Apisto Newbie

[vancat]

Hello all
I have a planted 72G with rummynoses, mollies and other community fish. In a few weeks a friend is giving me a young pair of cacatuoides (triple red) and I am very excited! I plan on putting in a couple of coconut shell caves for them.
I have been reading up on this fish, but I have one question remaining. What is a good diet for these guys? I usually feed the gang assorted flakes, frozen shrimp, and frozen bloodworms. Any other suggestions? Or, any suggestions at all?
Thanks!

 

[mordor]

They should be fine on this diet. You can also hatch baby brine shrimp or buy live brine shrimp if it's available in your LFS.

 

[aspen]

that sounds like a good arrangement. i would put their 'home' in a quiet secluded place in the tank, with minimal current. ime, they will like that.

do NOT forget quarentine. even though a friend is giving you those fish, you don't want anything untoward happening to your tank. a disease may not show up, till you re-locate fish.

have fun, rick

 

[Neil]

vancat,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

It sounds like they should be very happy in your tank. As long as you vary the diet, it will work. However, apistos tend to be a little picky about certain types of flake food, so you may need to experiment a little. I use OSI Marine and most of them seem to like that pretty well. Good luck and keep us posted!
Neil

 

[vancat]

Thanks, all

Hey, thanks all you folks. I feel confident about them now. And I WAS wondering if I should quarantine...he has had these fish for 4 months. And I do quarantine 98% of the time. But sometimes I wonder if that only adds more stress? Then they have to get moved twice! What is everyone's opinion? Although everyone's opinion will mean doodley-squat if something bad happens.

thanks!

 

[Ron]

Thats the same diet I feed mine (frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms and cichlid flakes).
My 75 also houses rummys and 2 angels.

 

[vancat]

Hi Ron,
I thought you might find this interesting- I had an angel in there for EIGHT YEARS and it just died last week!

The rummies I have are getting up there too, I think 3-4 years old for some of them. They are great fish, aren't they?