Apistogramma borellii container pond?

[Joshaeus]

Hello all! I am setting up a 24 inch pot as a container pond this spring, and am looking for something to keep in it. I have heard that A. borellii has the rare trait of being a temperate cichlid, capable of handling temperatures into the high 30's...so, how would they do in a container pond? Should I add a air pump, or would a pair and their fry be fine? Would I see much of them? Thankx in advance

 

[Mike Wise]

Personally, I wouldn't add borellii until outdoor temperatures remained above 50°F/10°C. Below that their metabolism is so low that they are very prone to diseases. A 24"/60cm diameter pot should be ok even without air (depending on numbers of specimens) but I highly doubt that you will see much of them. Nature designed them to be hard to see from above.

 

[Joshaeus]

OK! That's still much longer than most cichlids could stay outdoors. PS...is that an average temperature or the minimum daily temperature?

 

[Mike Wise]

Minimum daily temperature.

 

[Joshaeus]

Hate to revive such an old thread, but I am posting about the same topic...anyhow, strongly considering A. borellii for a water garden next year. The water garden will be 54 inches long, 36 wide, and 20 high (an 110 gallon rubber water trough) and will be heavily planted with a water lily, water lettuce, hornwort, and maybe other plants, with a hardware cloth lid to deter would be Apisto eaters. I was going to feed it once or twice daily with 1/2 teaspoon baby brine shrimp and do 10 gallon weekly water changes. How would A. borellii do in such a setup? I would put them in it as soon as nighttime air temps are in the 50's and pull them inside when they drop below 50.

 

[Mike Wise]

I think it should be OK, but I doubt that you'll ever see the fish. OTOH you should have a large number of borellii when in the fall. Just make sure you acclimate the fish temperature-wise before putting them outside; maybe reducing the temperature slowly (over a month's time) to room temperature first.

 

[Joshaeus]

I will I will keep them at room temp year round to make this easier, and wait for nighttime temps to reach the 50's before introducing them outside.