Apistogramma Agassizi - Just Purchased

[LindaMC]

Hi, I'm new to this site, in fact, this is my first post. I purchased a pair of red tail Apistos Agasszi's last week and I thought I'd drop in an introduce myself.

I have a 29 gallon planted tank that contains, 2 Blue Rams, 1 Swordtail, 1 Red Wag Platy, 2 Lemon Tetras, 2 Harlequin Rasboras, a pair of Otos and the 2 new Apistos. They are very small right now and have just finally begun to venture out more. My tank isn't as heavily planted as I'd like it to be, but I'm working on it. I've also placed a little clay pot in the tank in hopes that it would give the Apisto's a place to hide. The female goes in there a lot but not the male. The female also seems to run away from the male all the time, is this normal? I believe they are too young yet for spawning but I'm hoping that they will someday in the near future.

Anyone have any advice for this new Apisto keeper?

Thank you, it's good to be here!

Happy Holidays!
Linda

 

[mematrix]

Re to post

Hi Linda. Welcome. I think that they should get along with the rams in a 29 gal. Though if you plan on breeding them the fry will have a hard time surviving even with mom guarding them they will eventually get picked off. As for being ready to spawn they might be big enough . Did you get them from Apistodave? I got mine from him 4 wks ago approx. and they have spawned 2 times already. They are about female 3/4 in and the male 1 1/4 maybe less. I have 34+ wriggelers right now. Here are some picks of my pr.
Curtis

 

[LindaMC]

Hi Curtis, yes I did get them from Apistodave, they are still very small, would seem unlikely that they would spawn yet but hopefully in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I cannot view the photos of your apistos from my work, so I forwarded the photos home where I will view them tonight.

I think these guys are so cute, the female comes right up to the front of the tank to see me now, but the male still hides a lot. I put a coconut shell in my tank last night and the male was going in and out of there, while the female prefers the clay flower pot. It's funny, they both have they're own little apartments now, only on opposite sides of the tank. I'm hoping that will change sometime in the near future.

I plan on purchasing a 10 gallon tank to use as a hospital/quarantine/fry tank, so if they do spawn, would it be advisable for me to remove the fry from the tank before they are eaten, or will the female fight me on this idea?

 

[mematrix]

Re to post

Mostly depends on you if you want to remove the fry or not. I useally remove the eggs first but didn,t and they got ate I have a pond and rams horn snail prob and it seems that none of my fish seem to think they are a threat and allow them into the egg mass and poof no more eggs. I haven't realy found any thing that gets rid of them without hurting my fish anf natural pred will eat the eggs too so I crush when I see them extra nutrition for my fish.LOL
By the way how are they doing ? I got 35+ fry out of 85 eggs got about a day or 2 before they are freeswimming I'm artifically hatching them. Thease were taken 3 days after laying.Last mon the dates on pics are wrong

Sincerely Curtis

 

[kenkht]

I do recommend getting your Apisto a tank of their own if you are thinking of breeding. It will REALLY save you and the fries A LOT of trouble.

I am facing this problem right now with my Ram fries. They are in a tank with 7 Black neon tetras and a couple of wild bettas. Even though the Ram pair are doing a great job keeping the other away, there will be a few "snatch" snack occassionally. So, my resolve is after this batch of fries grows up a little, I will complately remove all other fishes and just maintain the Rams. Right now, it is just too difficult to catch them out because my tank is heavily planted. Oh, btw otto cats are perfectly OK. :wink:

 

[Apisto ranch]

Some people have all the luck huh linda. I've had my agg. For going on 2 months now and nothing. not even A look at each other and there in a 100gal heavily planted tank. Even my cockatos and Nijss. in the tank have done anything. They where all bought from Apistodave at the same time. They r all about the same size as the ones everybody else on here got from dave and have growen really good and the male cockatos or showing colors like they want to breed but nothing.
My gold cockatos have goten bigger then the others and there the same way nothing. must be the water in my area I'm thanking. how r yours doing today linda