New Apisto Amazon Biotope Project

[Vestor]

Hello everyone!

After a long time experience in african Tanganyika cichlids, i decided to turn myself onto the wonderful world of Dwarf Cichlids from south America.

I decided to share my experience here right from the start, and so i'm posting here my intent and initial ideas and will gladly be oriented/motivated/enlightened/influenced/anything more? =) by your suggestions and contributions.

The Tank:

200 Liter - 100cmX40cmX50cm

Filter:

Tetra EX700 - 700L/H + EHEIM 2211 - 300L/H

I'm not going to add anything to the flora nor fauna yet, because i want to read your contributions but, for a start, the decoration will be as much Amazonic as possible. I'm adding dark brown soil, rooted branches, anubias, pistia for the shadow effect and dry leaves to add as much jungle feeling as possible.

Like i said, i really want to get into Apistos/Rams, and would love to have a whole living aquarium, where every section has some movement so, this will probably have to include tetras/neons and bottom algae eating fish aswell. Although, and new to this biotope, i need all your contribution on best species to start and how many of each to have a solid and stable environment.

Hope to see this project grow in this community and to read your suggestions and ideas.

Many thanks in advance!

Cheers

 

[Mike Wise]

The first thing I see that is odd about your proposed biotope is the use of Anubias sp. for plants. These are African, not South American. Second, the only Rams that are truly from the Amazon Basin are the Bolivian Rams (M. altispinosus)- and these are not your typical Amazonian fish. They occur plains of Bolivia, in areas mostly not part of the Amazon rainforest. The blue Rams (M. ramirezi) are from the Llanos (plains) region of Colombia and Venezuela (Orinoco Basin)

I always question the desire to make "Amazonian biotope" aquaria. Most of the biotopes for dwarf cichlids and other small species are not pretty. They are mostly branches and leaf litter (no live aquatic plants). Look at some of the biotope photos on TomC's web site (http://apisto.sites.no/articles.aspx).
The next question is how accurate do you want the biotope to be? Are you willing to mix species from different regions? For example, do you know what species actually occur together with Neon Tetras? These are questions that you need to answer first.

 

[Vestor]

Hey there!

You're totally right! It has been so much time dealing with african cichlids that anubia just came out instantly, but of course, not logical for an amazon biotope.

As for now, and after some reading (like i said, i'm new to Apistogrammas and amazonian biotopes) i'm discarding the neon possibility and would much rather introduce Nannostomus eques instead. Thiy're more suitable and compatible with what i'm aiming for.

Well, your question is indeed relevant, mainly because its aiming a newbie. Yes i like the overall layout and the way "Amazonian biotope" generally looks. But to be honest, i dont really intend to make something so rigid and strict that every species i select has to be from the same exact location of the amazonian biotope. I'm flexible and i want to make something good aswel as something that pleases me. So yes, i'm willing to mix species.

I'm pointing tompoz tank as a starting reference http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/my-bw-cw-50-gallon-tank.11710/ . I find it very pretty and really gives the feeling that i'm looking for. (gz for the aquarium)

So as a kick-off i'm thinking about this for Fauna:

1 couple A. Cacatuoides
1 couple Nannacara anomala
10 Nannostomus eques (should it be 20?)
10 Pyrrhulina (in case of 10 Nannostomus)
6 Corydora Sterbai (i think its enough)
2 Loricarias Red or other algae eater (any suggestions?)

Thanks for the participation and keep it up!

cheers

 

[Mike Wise]

Your selection of fish should make a nice community tank, although Personally, I would add some other small schooling species, like Neon Tetras. It will add more movement to the aquarium. I would choose any loricarid you want, so long as it isn't too large or aggressive. I doubt that you will see many (if any) fry from your dwarf cichlids. Your catfish will take care of them fairly quickly.

 

[Vestor]

Hi again!

Why do you say that about the fry and the catfish? is Corydora Sterbai that aggressive? wont they respect the Apistogramma defending their fry? What do you suggest then? Corydora habrosus/hastatus/pygmaeus?

I was thinking of an alternative to Nannacara Anomala because i'm having difficulty in finding them, and i thought about another species of Apistogramma like rotpunkt or abacaxis. What do you think? Rams would be another possibility...

Thanks again!

Cheers!

 

[Mike Wise]

All bottom dwelling catfish - including corydoras and especially loricarids - will eat eggs/larvae when they find them. Both are armored. A single female apisto has little chance of protecting her spawn when one of these 'tanks' finds it, especially at night. Female apistos have been known to attack and bite out the eyes of corys. It's the only part of the fish that is vulnerable. Like many new apisto keepers, you need to decide what is more important to you: having a community tank or a breeding tank. A community tank is not a breeding tank (how many times have I written this?). You may get some fry in a community tank, but don't expect many to survive.

 

[Vestor]

Ok, makes sense.

Definately i'm aiming a community tank so, breeding is not my priority. As for the seccond question, about alternatives to nannacara anomala? Apistogramma Abacaxis, Apistogramma Rotpunkt or Rams? would any of these be bad choice?

thanks!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Corydoras pygmaeus & C. hastatus only eat very small food items, and aren't particularly bottom orientated, so they don't offer a threat to the cichlid fry. They aren't the easiest fish to keep in any community setting, so I wouldn't recommend them as tank mates. I've kept both of them temporarily with Apistogramma or Dicrossus pairs and it is possible, but I keep very weedy complex tanks.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

I would choose an apisto species that does not look similar to your A. cacatuoides. A. cf. alacrina Rotpunkt is an excellent beginner fish. I don't consider Orinoco Rams to be the best species for community tanks, however. They do best at temperatures above 28°C/82°F, which is rather warm for most other common community tank members. Commercially bred specimens also have a reputation for being weak/sensitive/dieing easily.