Can anybody ID these two fish?

[Paula4342]

 

[MacZ]

Domestic Apistogramma macmasteri, all females.

 

[Paula4342]

Domestic Apistogramma macmasteri, all females.

Thank you.
I bought them as a pair of macmasteri. Would it make sense to get a male or is that not a good idea with two females. I find different information about this topic.

 

[MacZ]

Would it make sense to get a male or is that not a good idea with two females. I find different information about this topic.

Completely dependent on the parameters.
Do you want to breed? (Then again, an obvious community tank is not a breeding tank)
How big is the tank? (dimensions)
Do you have a second/third tank to separate them if they don't get along? (Spoiler: There will be agression one way or another.)

If you want to breed get a breeding tank. If not, you won't need a male.
If the tank is less than 100cm long a third of these is one too many.
If you have no other tanks, I strongly advice not getting another Apistogramma.

 

[Paula4342]

Completely dependent on the parameters.
Do you want to breed? (Then again, an obvious community tank is not a breeding tank)
How big is the tank? (dimensions)
Do you have a second/third tank to separate them if they don't get along? (Spoiler: There will be agression one way or another.)

If you want to breed get a breeding tank. If not, you won't need a male.
If the tank is less than 100cm long a third of these is one too many.
If you have no other tanks, I strongly advice not getting another Apistogramma.

Completely dependent on the parameters.
Do you want to breed? (Then again, an obvious community tank is not a breeding tank)
How big is the tank? (dimensions)
Do you have a second/third tank to separate them if they don't get along? (Spoiler: There will be agression one way or another.)

If you want to breed get a breeding tank. If not, you won't need a male.
If the tank is less than 100cm long a third of these is one too many.
If you have no other tanks, I strongly advice not getting another Apistogramma.

I don't want to breed to sell fish. I just wanted to have a centerpiece fish and my fish shop said it is nice with a pair because then I can watch their natural behaviour. Now I have two females which are not overly colourfu.l This was not the idea but they are very cute though.
They are in a 3ft, 130L tank with tetras and endlers, and I have 5 other tanks, but none of them would be suitable if there is a problem.
I ordered a pair of borelliis for the other 3ft tank, they are not shipped yet. Would you recommend to change the order and just get a male?

 

[MacZ]

They are in a 3ft, 130L tank with tetras and endlers, and I have 5 other tanks, but none of them would be suitable if there is a problem.

Stick to the two ladies then. Usually females tend to burn out from permanent spawning one brood after the other within a year. This way the two will have a longer life.

I ordered a pair of borelliis for the other 3ft tank, they are not shipped yet. Would you recommend to change the order and just get a male?

What tankmates will they have? A. borellii are a lot smaller and probably the least aggressive species of them all. If you are just going for a community and don't want to risk any fry making it, only get a male, otherwise be ready to re-home some youngsters from time to time. Can be a hustle.

 

[Paula4342]

Stick to the two ladies then. Usually females tend to burn out from permanent spawning one brood after the other within a year. This way the two will have a longer life.

What tankmates will they have? A. borellii are a lot smaller and probably the least aggressive species of them all. If you are just going for a community and don't want to risk any fry making it, only get a male, otherwise be ready to re-home some youngsters from time to time. Can be a hustle.

Thanks so much.
Yes, I will stick with the two females. Everything is in harmony in the tank and I don't want to rish any dramas.

The borellii pair will go in a 3ft tank with neon tetras, pristella tetras, pygmy cories, sparkling gouramis and a pair of honey gouramis.

 

[MacZ]

The borellii pair will go in a 3ft tank with neon tetras, pristella tetras, pygmy cories, sparkling gouramis and a pair of honey gouramis.

The sparklers might pose a competition. Very similar lifestyles.

 

[Mike Wise]

... and Neons are fry predators, which will add stress for a brooding female.

 

[Paula4342]

The sparklers might pose a competition. Very similar lifestyles.

Thanks for your opinion.
I spoke to the breeder and showed him my setup and he says it will be fine.
I will give it a try.

 

[MacZ]

I spoke to the breeder and showed him my setup and he says it will be fine.

Care to share a picture of that?

I would generally not give a second thought about what they say because in the end they want to sell you more fish. Usually specialists recommend not combining species with similar livestyles (except swarm/gregarious fish), not because they might be fighting but long term one of the species takes over the tank with the other species slowly and quietly just disappearing.

 

[Paula4342]

Care to share a picture of that?

I would generally not give a second thought about what they say because in the end they want to sell you more fish. Usually specialists recommend not combining species with similar livestyles (except swarm/gregarious fish), not because they might be fighting but long term one of the species takes over the tank with the other species slowly and quietly just disappearing.

This is the tank.
The breeder is well known here in Australia and I trust him that he cares for his fish and wants them to go to a good home.

 

[MacZ]

Ok, if you ccan, change your order to a single male. Fits the tank better.

 

[Paula4342]

Ok, if you ccan, change your order to a single male. Fits the tank better.

Too late. The fish were shipped today.

 

[MacZ]

Then good luck.