New 5G tank. hoping to breed. need tips

[Adam Stinson]

I just got a new spec V and decided to put a pair of apistogrammas in with the intention of breeding. I read up a bit and noticed i need temp of 72-82, preferably frozen or live food, ph level of 6.5-7, and rocks and decorations (cave like) for them to mate and hatch eggs in. I also heard that a minimum of 10 gallons is recommended. does anyone think i can still breed them?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I just got a new spec V and decided to put a pair of apistogrammas in with the intention of breeding. I read up a bit and noticed i need temp of 72-82, preferably frozen or live food, ph level of 6.5-7, and rocks and decorations (cave like) for them to mate and hatch eggs in. I also heard that a minimum of 10 gallons is recommended. does anyone think i can still breed them?

No, it is really too small even for A. borellii. Small tanks are tricky because of keeping stable water parameters, and what is important for Apistogramma, as well as the factors you list, is a complex habitat and large floor area. Mike Wise recommends "about 1 sq. ft. of bottom area for each fish" and usually it is best to go with what Mike suggests.

If you want a small interesting fish that you can breed in a US 5 gallon, the Dwarf Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) would do.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

I agree with Darrel. About the only apisto species that would comfortably breed in a 5 is A. wapisana, a very small (1½"/35mm), rather plain looking species. Other species will breed in small tanks if you're careful about aggression and water quality, but where do you put the fry once they get some size? Something to think about.

 

[kiddstinson]

Well I didnt have many plans for where to put it when they hatch. Also im gonna be honest im not entirely sure what species I have but I might have the one u mentioned could u descrive them?

 

[wethumbs]

Are you trying to see how many apistos you can fit in a 5 gal.? Kind of like how many people can fit in a phone booth or a car.

 

[kiddstinson]

well i plan on selling and buying more/bigger tanks.

 

[Rod]

In my opinion....5 gallons isn't too small to breed some apistos.....given certain parameters
I've breed borelli/trifasciata in very small tanks......15 liters

BUT....they were a compatible pairs....they weren't fully grown.....and I did remove parents to another tank once babies were a couple of weeks old

It is too small to raise fry to adulthood......
and it is too small to also have dither fish....which make them less skittish.....and therefore more attractive to observe
If you wish to raise fry ....particularly with parents....then a much bigger tank is needed
also with some species...females aren't that tolerant of males after fry hatch

Most important issue for most apistos is SOFT water.....(low conductivity)

With most fish species there is no one rule.....best to study the needs of the specie you wish to breed
and don't assume one hat fits all!

 

[kiddstinson]

Thank u Rod that is very helpful information. I also have a 2g and a 3G tank that I plan to put the parents in after the fry are a couple weeks old. Is there anymore info u can give me to give me the best chance to breed the fish? I do plan to get a bigger tank in the future but at the moment it is hard to say when that will be.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I've breed borelli/trifasciata in very small tanks......15 liters

This shows it can be done, but trifasciata is a strongly harem forming species and the males are hard on the females and genocidal to other males, even sub-adult ones.

I also have a 2g and a 3G tank that I plan to put the parents in after the fry are a couple weeks old. Is there anymore info u can give me to give me the best chance to breed the fish? I do plan to get a bigger tank in the future but at the moment it is hard to say when that will be.

Have a look at Apistobob's pages, he is full of good advice: <http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Aquarium_care.php>.

The tanks are just too small for any dwarf cichlids, and I would only try and breed the smaller Killifish in them.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

Trust me, you don't have A. wapisana. First, it is rarely found in the hobby. I have seen it for sale only 2X in the past 30 years. Second, it is so plain that only die-hard apisto nuts (like me) would want to keep it. Look for the name or A. sp. Balzfleck in a search engine.

 

[Rod]

Note!

I wouldn't try to maintain a fully grown pair of Apistos in a 5 gallon tank.....however
You could keep sexes separated and just use the tank for breeding

However ....whilst this may work to reproduce fish....it will rob you of the pleasure of watching them interact with each other then their fry
If a larger tank is provided

It would work if you maintain a pair in a large community tank.....remove them to spawn....then return them to the larger tank.....but only with smaller species when they are young