Mixing Apistos

[ScottandFish]

Hello all. I would like to keep Caucatoides and Borelli opal in the same tank. I was planning on running them in a 20gallon tank with 4 medium sized pieces of drift wood with a few plants, crypts Java fern banana plant and flame moss, with a fine sand bottom. Was planning on having 3-4 small caves. I would like to breed these fish. Will this set up work? Or should I try the same set up in my 32 gallon? Or am I better off to run them separately in my 20 gallon and 15 gallon. I've never tried mixing Apistos. I also have a 52 gallon heavily planted community tank that I could keep them in and just seperate the pairs into a breeding tank.

 

[Mike Wise]

Mixing these 2 species in small tanks (even your 32 gallon) isn't a good idea. The male cacatuoides will dominate the borellii male. Separate breeding tanks is the way to go. Next question: do you have grow-out tanks available? You'll need them eventually.

 

[ScottandFish]

I have a 60 gallon hexagon tank I use for growing out my juveniles. I thought I might be best off keeping them separate.