Difficulty breeding taenicara candidi vs A. elizabethae / flabellicauda?

[Chilligan]

I've had a trio of Taenicara candidi for the past several months and was surprised to have them spawn now four times. The first two batches are about a cm long and the second two just emerged from their caves.

I now have the opportunity to acquire A. flabellicauda and/or A. elizabethae, but I'm curious how those two compare in terms of requirements for, and difficulty of breeding vs T. candidi.

Thanks for any perspective.

 

[MacZ]

If you got T. candidi to breed you will likely get the Apistos to breed, too. They come from the same type of habitat, are also cave spawners... The only things to look out for concern your setup and infrastructure. Have a second tank at hand to separate male and female after spawning (in case the female doesn't tolerate the male or if he is too aggressive if the female isn't ready to breed) and have a separate tank for every female to spawn. Also make sure you have grow out tanks ready.

That's all there is. The business-part is also ready? You got a buyer?

 

[anewbie]

I prefer to leave the males with the females but use a sufficiently large aquarium. This mostly works with the species i've owned - 30 inch long aquarium like a 20 long is usually enough for a single pair but a 40b (36x18) or 65 (48x16 or 48x18) is always better. The common suggestion of removing the male is because frequently people try to breed them in small aquariums 10, 15 or 20 high or have poor scape; though some species the male is a bit too eager to breed again while the female is still caring for frys. When i had my ortegai it was actually entertaining to watch the male check on the various females and frys - he would make a round to check each group (3f 1m in a 65) but i never saw much if any aggression between the male and females and when i remove the females the male took over brood care for a couple of days (long story). So in that aspect there is definite advantage for leaving the male in the aquarium but if money or space is tight then one makes due with what one has.

 

[Chilligan]

Thank you both. I'd read that Taenicara were difficult to breed, but the stars seem to have aligned.

I do have a buyer. Local fish shop will happily take them rather than having to import, if I can't find homes otherwise.

I have access to some extra tank space.

The Taenicara surprised me somewhat as they are in a 36 x 12 x 12 planted tank with Parotocinclus and miniature pencil fish. Plenty of hides and sight blocks.