LFS has some Apistos and am thinking of getting a couple pair. Have questions

[Wagz]

Hi there,

I have a 75 gallon heavily planted tank. Currently have lf zebra danios, sterbai cory's, zebra otos, threadfin and celebes rainbows, and some blue eye forktail (furcata) rainbows, still small. I recently purchased 2 german blue rams. Think they are both males. A little chasing, nothing lethal. Anyway my lfs has just gotten in some apistogramma: cacatuoides, agassizii double red, and trifasciata blue. They are young and not too colored yet. Sexing may be difficult, but not impossible. I was hoping to get two pair, probably the cacatuoides, along with the agassizii double red, but may the trifasciata blue. Questions are will there be issues with my other fish? Is this too many with the current blue rams. Do you recommend just one additional pair? I would wait to see how one pair does, but these go fast and they can't get them often. Any suggestions and which species?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[Mike Wise]

Do you want the apistos for breeding or do you want them as 'show' fish?

 

[Wagz]

Do you want the apistos for breeding or do you want them as 'show' fish?

Just for show fish, not into breeding yet.

 

[Wagz]

After some googling, it appears only one species should be kept in one tank. ph 7 to 7+, the cockatoo and agg double red are both so cool looking, hard to choose.

 

[Wagz]

So googling more, probably best to keep one type of apisto. Cockatoos, (now that i know what it means its much easier to spell), I guess are not too aggressive and look good. the Aggasazii double reds look good too. I'm thinking of trying to get two males as problems seem to happen once spawning starts. It may be hard to sex them at their age. The fish store almost doesn't want to help, it's like they want you to end up with females, since so many of their species they carry-the prettier males get bought up, and they're stuck trying to get rid of plain females. Anyways, any suggestions. Oh, what about my six cory's?Water is 79f. Usually was in the 7.6-7.8ph range, but was a 7 last time I checked. I did add quite a bit of manzanita branches. no idea on kh, but I bet its on the upper end. Buffalo water pluse lots of seiryu stone.have a kit but haven't used. Any votes?

 

[Mike Wise]

In a community tank that is as large and well decorated as you write, I think that you should be fine with 2 or 3 male apistos. You'll find more interaction and less fighting if the apistos are different in shape and finnage. If the other fish work well with Rams, then they should be fine with apistos.

 

[Wagz]

OK, more googling, it is unclear weather I would be better off with a pair, or two males. Not interested in breeding. lot of sites recommend pairs or 1 to 2. Some say 1 male is ok. trying to avoid agreesion of breeding female spawning. some say males will just fight another male and won't show much color without female. Also, would it be better to get males of a different species, like 1 cockatoo and an agasazii. Any advice?

 

[Mike Wise]

Why get a more plain-colored female if you don't want to breed them? Apisto males will 'color up' with or without a female present. Color is used as much for establishing a territory as it is for breeding. Yes, males will display to each other while establishing territorial boundaries, but it rarely turns into actual physical attacks. As I wrote before, you will have fewer problems with 2-3 males that don't look like each other. A cockatoo and an agassizii should be OK.