Apistogramma velifera

[lab]

I just got some A. velifera, and wondered if anybody would like to share experiences, since I never had this species before.

From the DATZ book I can see it is considered a medium/hard species to keep. How low do you think I should go in pH to breed them, and are they choosy with respect to partner?

In the shop they were labeled "A. resticulosa", although they knew it was a wrong name. They just didn't know what the right name was. A little odd there was only one male in the whole group of maybe 20 fish. Is the sex ratio something I should pay special attention to in this species?

(I also got 2 other new species today: Tahuantinsuyoa macantzatza and a bunch of young Guianacara sp. "Red cheek". Damn, Kullander must have been in a bad mood when he named the first species :wink: )

Lars

 

[Mike Wise]

A. velifera is a member of the pertensis-group. Like other members it is preferencially monogamous. It is the female who is choosy. It is a blackwater species that requires soft & acid water similar to A. nijsseni to reproduce. This combination of factors makes it more difficult to breed than most other apistos. Sex ratios are primarily dependent on temperature.

 

[lab]

Thank you Mike.

I wonder, considering it is a monogamous species, if the male takes relatively more part in raising the fry?

 

[Mike Wise]

No, males seems to be very casual about parenting - and even defending a territory. It is the female who is "picky" about her choice in males. If I were you, since there is only 1 male, I would buy several females. One will probably be willing to breed with him. If you are lucky, he might find even more than 1 female willing.

 

[lab]

OK, I thought of the approach with more females too.

I don't quite get the monogamous part of it now Or does it only apply to females? I mean, if the male only mates with one female, he would have every reason to help raise the fry or at least defend the overall territory.

 

[Mike Wise]

You're right. It is the female who is the monogamous one, not the male.