• Hello guest! Are you an Apistogramma enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Apisto enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your fish and tanks and have a great time with other Apisto enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Considering A. Panduro or Agassizii

HookedOnFish_MI

Active Member
Messages
150
Location
Michigan, USA
Hello, I was hoping to get some thoughts on keeping a pair of one of these species in a 15 gallon aquarium (24”x12.5”x12.5”). If appropriately scaped, is the tank sufficient in size?

I’d also like to note that my ph is 7.5 from the tap. I would have drift wood, leaf litter and peat in the filter to help, but not sure how stable it would be with each water change. Spawning would be a bonus, but not a deal-breaker.

Finally, do you have recommendations on a schoaling/schooling dither fish?
 

MacZ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,958
Location
Germany
A. macmasteri grow significantly larger than A. borellii. They'd need more space. I'd only do it if you have a second / 3rd etc. tank running to move one fish to at any given time.
 

Apistoguy52

Active Member
Messages
275
Got it, thank you very much for this info!
I don’t think that I would agree that there is a significant difference in size, mature males I’ve kept both kinda seemed to top out shy of 3” iirc. IMO it isn’t the size, it’s the level of aggression that probably disqualifies the macs, borellii are just that much friendlier.
 

anewbie

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,365
I don’t think that I would agree that there is a significant difference in size, mature males I’ve kept both kinda seemed to top out shy of 3” iirc. IMO it isn’t the size, it’s the level of aggression that probably disqualifies the macs, borellii are just that much friendlier.
I thought macs were quasi-pair forming so once they accept each other there is less aggression between male/female.... someone told me their female borelli killed their male in a 15 (while she was guarding frys).
 

Apistoguy52

Active Member
Messages
275
I thought macs were quasi-pair forming so once they accept each other there is less aggression between male/female.... someone told me their female borelli killed their male in a 15 (while she was guarding frys).
No idea. All I know is that a 15 didn’t offer enough space for a retreat with the macmasteri species I’ve kept. With borellii, I was able to keep two pairs in the same 15 without incident. Perhaps I was just lucky
 

anewbie

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,365
No idea. All I know is that a 15 didn’t offer enough space for a retreat with the macmasteri species I’ve kept. With borellii, I was able to keep two pairs in the same 15 without incident. Perhaps I was just lucky
Not disagreeing a 15 is too small for mac just due to size of the fish. I think borelli is sort of a your mile kind of hting as some females are pretty passive and others are more fire cracker oriented. I know a lot of folks keep them in 15 without issue jsut reporting what someone told me (someone who is generally reliable). Given their background i presume it was well scaped but who knows.
 

MacZ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,958
Location
Germany
I don’t think that I would agree that there is a significant difference in size, mature males I’ve kept both kinda seemed to top out shy of 3” iirc. IMO it isn’t the size, it’s the level of aggression that probably disqualifies the macs, borellii are just that much friendlier.
I have rarely seen a A. borellii surpass 7cm, but I have seen 10cm A. macmasteri regularly.
But anyhow, the aggression level is really worlds inbetween.
 

HookedOnFish_MI

Active Member
Messages
150
Location
Michigan, USA
I picked up my male and female A. borellii yesterday. Any idea at what size they can begin to spawn? The female is about 1”, with the male a little larger.

5DB5153C-CE87-4822-83A7-D45393666C27.png
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
17,915
Messages
116,200
Members
13,027
Latest member
tonc61

Latest profile posts

Josh wrote on anewbie's profile.
Testing
EDO
Longtime fish enthusiast for over 70years......keen on Apistos now. How do I post videos?
Looking for some help with fighting electric blue rams :(
Partial updated Peruvian list have more than this. Please PM FOR ANY QUESTIONS so hard to post with all the ads poping up every 2 seconds….
Top