Keeping A. bitaeniata

[jose_vogel]

Yesterday, I went to the importer and buy 7 juveniles of A. bitaeniata (I think there´re 3 males and 4 females).

Because the other fish the importer had (loricarids) and because the yellow color of the caudal and dorsal fin of the juveniles "males", I think they´re from the Itaya river in Peru.


I want to breed this specie, so I put them in a new tank with this setup:
Size: 36x20x12 (inches) = 90x50x30 (cm). Almost 35 gal. (135 liters).
Substrate: just sand (1 inch = 2.5 cm)
Decoration: 8 pots and 2 boogwood
Filtration: Internal filter 75 g/h (300 l/h)
No plants, almost dark (light from others tanks)
Water: 1/2 RO, 1/2 normal water
PH: 6.0
Conductivity: 80 ms
Temp: 26º C (79º F)


What do you think about this setup?

Do you have any advice?

Thanks in advance

 

[Tom C]

Based on my experiences, I would definitely add leaves ( I use leaves from oak and beech) to the ground. I’ve been catching different forms of A. bitaeniata in several locations in Peru ( in Rio Itaya too), and with no exceptions these habitats had the ground covered with a thick layer of leaf-litter.

This is a A.bitaniata-habitat in Rio Itaya:

Here I caught A. bitaeniata in the Rio Nanay (not far from Rio Itaya) :

And here in the Rio Ampiyacu-drainage:

I would also lower the pH a little, I’ve been catching them in pH between 4,5 to 5,3 ( at the end of the dry season).

As they grow, don’t be surprised if one of the males takes the whole tank as his private territory, where all the females are welcome but every other male ruthless is chased away.
The weaker males could have a hard time finding hiding places in your tank. Leaves, and extra caves/wood preventing the males to see each other all the time, could help.
In my tanks, the weaker males also hide among floating plants.

Good luck with beautiful fish !

 

[jose_vogel]

Thanks Tom.


I´ll add some sphagnum to the filter to low the PH a little and I´ll add some leaves, regretably we don´t have oak nor beech, so I´ll try to find a good replacement.

Thanks again.

 

[Mike Wise]

Thanks Tom.

I´ll add some leaves, regretably we don´t have oak nor beech, so I´ll try to find a good replacement.

Thanks again.

Jose,

I am certain that you will find some Argentinian tree leaves that will serve your needs. Look for trees that live in acid soils. These usually have leaves that produce acid water. Do not use leaves from trees with thick leaves when dry. Such leave often have sap that can be toxic in an aquarium. Collect only leaves that have fallen from the trees. You might also look for exotic (to Argentina) trees in parks or arboretums. When you find leaves that you think will work, test them in a small container of soft water first.

 

[jose_vogel]

Thanks Mike,

I´ll go to the Municipal Botanical park to collect leaves and, of course, I´ll test them in a basket with 100% RO water.

 

[jose_vogel]

As I said, I went to the Municipal Botanical Garden and found oaks, so I collect almost 100 leaves, they are dry.

Thanks.


Let´s try breeding bitaeniata.

 

[Mike Wise]

Jose, how many people looked at you as if you were crazy for collecting so many leaves? I sometimes get strange looks when I pick through piles of leaves in the park.:tongue:

 

[jose_vogel]

Yes, you´re right Mike.

I heard a young couple saying:
"Poor man, he doesn´t wear like a beggar, he has to be a little crazy"


But I was very glad because I found oak, so for me it was a manificent day.

 

[Triadtropz]

Yes, you´re right Mike.

I heard a young couple saying:
"Poor man, he doesn´t wear like a beggar, he has to be a little crazy"


But I was very glad because I found oak, so for me it was a manificent day.

looks like a nice set up..i might go with only 1-2 males though..good luck..i have a few pairs nice fish!

 

[beleg]

Jose, how many people looked at you as if you were crazy for collecting so many leaves? I sometimes get strange looks when I pick through piles of leaves in the park.:tongue:

Hehe, my wife was collecting Ketapang leaves on the street in Indonesia, and the cleaning people came and said "Lady, sorry today we started the work a bit late today, you don't have to work we will clean up very soon." :biggrin:

 

[Triadtropz]

what might be as effective as the leaves is either peat filtration or blackwater extract..

 

[jose_vogel]

May be, Triadtropz, but I remember reading something about the antibiotic function of some leaves.

Besides, the leaves forms natural "caves".

 

[Tom C]

...Besides, the leaves forms natural "caves".

and the fish search for food (microorganismes) among the leaves, they hide among them, they hide the fry among them and they even lay their eggs under them.

This is one of mine...

 

[Triadtropz]

nice fish tom..ya the leaves sound good for spawning...

 

[Apistomaster]

TomC,
That is a nice A. bitaeniata. This species has been among the most difficult of all the Apistogramma species I have been able to breed.

 

[Tom C]

TomC,
That is a nice A. bitaeniata. This species has been among the most difficult of all the Apistogramma species I have been able to breed.

In my tanks, with soft, tea-colored, peat-filtered water with pH around 5, the wild caught specimens breed almost all the time.
So my experience is that they are quite easy, as long as I provide them with conditions close to what they are used to in their natural habitats.

 

[Marsupilami]

Hi,
I have a 75 gallons tank with young M. altispinosa (~5 cm)and Crenicara punctulata (6-7 cm). I recently added 4 youngs A. bitaeniata (~4 cm). However, I think they are all males... :frown: So I will try to find some females. Is it possible to keep the four males in the same tank ? Actually they are not yet fully colored and not very aggressive.
Séb

 

[Genes]

In my tanks, with soft, tea-colored, peat-filtered water with pH around 5, the wild caught specimens breed almost all the time.
So my experience is that they are quite easy, as long as I provide them with conditions close to what they are used to in their natural habitats.

Yeah, i agree they breed rather readily. I bred mine in tanks with pH6 without any problem. My setup is simple, a small 40cm tank, ADA amazonia aquasoil, java ferns tied to small pieces of wood.