Just How many Apistos Will Fit?

[Jonathan Aquair]

Im planning for my 75gal. Apisto biotope that will be housing either A. Bitaeniata, A. Agassizii, or A. sp. Rio Tefe. I'm trying to have a colony so I can see some more natural behavior, so I was wondering how many individuals I could get before there is a serious issue. I've had a smallish Cacatuoides colony before, so I was wondering if the colonizing habits of Bitaeniata, Agassizii, and sp. Tefe are very different (since they are all part of the same lineage (and sub-lineage besides Cacatuoides))

 

[Mike Wise]

It all depends on how the tank is decorated. If you had about 6"/15cm layer of loose leaf litter on the bottom, you could safely keep a dozen or so specimens. Otherwise I recommend each fish have a territory of about 12"/30cm diameter with visual boundaries.

 

[Jonathan Aquair]

Thanks Mike.
It's meant to be a biotope(ish) tank (I'll be planting in it with some plants not from SA), so the leaf litter is going to be pretty deep.