Most colourful Apistogramma

[seanyroche]

Hi Im new on here I have a 180L planted tank with 8 x-ray tetras. I was looking to put in 2 or 3 pairs of colourful Apistogrammas I have a pair of Borelli keep in the shop for me. I was wondering what the most coulorful species and compatable species are cockatoos ect.

thanks Sean

 

[Bilbo]

For my money 180L isn't really big enough for 2 or 3 pairs. As for most colourful that is personal preference. I am a big fan of any wild fish especially anything in blue like trifasciata and panduro etc. Bitaeniata, agassizii and borellii are beautiful as well.

I think borellii are a great choice and look forward to seeing your setup.

 

[seanyroche]

thanks for the reply, yeah i dont want to have my tank over stocked because it is so well balanced at the moment. I think i will get the borrelli pair and see how they get on. Sean

 

[Jonathan Aquari]

I love The newer variations of cacatuoides and Agassizi, but the most color, most defiantly the viejita I/II (really just macmasteri)

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Most colourful of the "easy" ones? Probably the red forms of A. cacatuoides, A. trifasciata and A. "Blue-steel". If you have softer water probably A. baenschi or A.panduro for the "blues", and the domestic red forms of A. agassizi, A. hongsloi and A. macmasteri.

Most colourful of all? possibly A. "papagei" or A."pebas" <http://apisto.sites.no/page.aspx?PageId=52>.

If you have a look through the gallery at Tom C's site <http://apisto.sites.no/default.aspx>, it will give examples of a lot of Apistogramma spp.

8 x-ray tetras

Pristellas are magnificent fry hunters, I had 2 "rescue fish" for a while in with my A. cacatuoides, and I had no successful spawns whilst I had them. They were in this tank, with Black Neon tetras (which do make good dithers for A. cacatuoides).

The "main fish" in the image is an old female, who had developed some male characteristics.

cheers Darrel

 

[seanyroche]

I got a pair of agassizi fire reds, the male keeps going at the female. i was told her mate died a few days ago and this male was the other male in the tank. she seems very skinny and is more interested in hiding then eating. any ideas? these are my first apistos i have tried freeze dried tubifex worm, frozen mysis, tetra prima granular, tropical flake and she seems like she has no interest in anything.

 

[tompoz]

Try some live food. I have bought my female A. sp. Papagei being very thin and she was totally not interested in frozen food. Once I have switched to live food, she started eating and is much better looking now.

 

[seanyroche]

thanks Tom will try that in the morning

 

[Mike Wise]

Also consider separating the two fish. Stress will cause her not to eat as well as she should. Ideally, she should be in a separate quarantine tank.

 

[seanyroche]

tried live mosquito larvae, he loved it but she stayed in her new coconut cave I put in this morning. maybe she will come out after some rest in there.

 

[seanyroche]

Female is still hiding and is very reluctant to come out any sudgestions?

 

[Mike Wise]

Put the female in a separate quarantine tank. She is either sick or over stressed. Either way, she will probably die if not treated. Give her some peace to eat and rebuild her strength and health before being returned to you other tank

 

[sheag35]

personally the apisto hongsloi is the most colourful

 

[dpien]

I think you can't beat the colours of A. baenschi, A. macmasteri and A. trifasciata!! Oh yes, then there's A. sp. vielfleck (xingu)..:biggrin::biggrin: and, and ...
This is the wonderful world of apisto's, anyone can have their pick and opinion. There's literally an apisto to suit everyone. Tbh - they're all stunning, given the right water and feeding conditons!
:biggrin::biggrin: