Apistogramma Viejita

[Profs]

Hello,

I got what seems an adult pair of Viejita which I put alone in a 60x30x30cm tank decorated with coconut shells,catappa leaves and pieces of clay. ph is 6.8 and temp is set at 30 C. they seem healty and eat a varied diet but they dont seem to be interested in breeding. any help to help them trigger breeding?

Thanks!

 

[Cooder]

Firstly, your fish most probably are not A. viejita. They would be A. macmasteri. (i would be surprised if i ever saw fish labeled as A viejita, that were actually A. viejita.)

"Wild A. macmasteri in the commercial trade are collected mostly in the immediate vicinity the city of Vilavicencio, Colombia. This area is controlled by the Colombian National Police and is relatively peaceful and safe. The collecting locations for A. viejita are only about 25 - 50 km from Vilavicencio, but the area is not under the control of the Colombian NP. The area often is controlled by narco-trafficers and the FARC revolutionaries, who make it their business to keep (kill/kidnap) people they don't want in the area. Hopefully, this will be changing in a few years, but no one knows for sure." - Mike Wise
http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/apistogramma-viejita.11661/

Secondly, we have to establish that you actually have a pair.
If you do, I can suggest putting your temperature down to 25 - 28, i dont think apistogramma should be kept in temps as high as 30 C permanently. Perhaps if you can lower the pH aswell, that might work.
A large water change, particularly if done when a low pressure weather system comes over your area, often can trigger a spawn.

Otherwise, good food, good water and sexually mature adults usually does the trick

 

[Profs]

Hi,

Actually from what I was reading I was thinking that it may be macmasteri and not viejita. The guy that gave me the pair told me that they have already spawned but eaten the eggs. No but they do look like a pair thanks for your help! will keep you posted!