new at breeding

[ericbullock]

Hi - After having Apistos for a while I want to try my hand at breeding. I've acquired a pair of A. Baenschi and have them in a 5.5 gallon tank I was using as a quarantine/hospital tank. There is a large piece of driftwood, and one crypt. wendetii. I've also got half of a coconut shell in there for extra hiding. Here's a (admittedly bad) photo of the setup:

For dithers I've got 6 bloodfin tetras (which seem a bit skittish when the light is on). Is this setup going to work? Should I add more plants? Less light (currently have two 9W compact flourescent bulbs)? Different dithers?

Thanks for the advice...I can't wait to see these fish spawn!

-eric-

 

[Mike Wise]

It's worth a try. I would remove most, if not all, of the bloodfins (too busy of a fish). Most beginning breeders find that a 5.5 gallon is to small, but if your apistos are compatible, then it might be ok. Just keep an eye on the fish, to make sure that one doesn't start beating on the other.

 

[ericbullock]

So...no dithers? Or perhaps something calmer like pencilfish?

-eric-

 

[ericbullock]

...and as a followup queston, would I be better off trying this with something bigger, like a 20 Long?

-eric-

 

[Mike Wise]

One or 2 Pencilfish are my preferred dithers. A 20L is a much better tank for breeding A. baenschi. This species can easily produce 50 - 100 fry in a spawn. It is also large enough so that if a fight occurs between the adults, there is a better chance of hiding & avoiding fights.

 

[ericbullock]

OK. I'll try looking for some pencilfish to replace those bloodfins. And I'll consider a 20L if things don't work out with the 5.5.

Should I have just a pair of Inkas? I hear conflicting information on this, and some people have trios of certain species.

Thanks!

-eric-

 

[Mike Wise]

Species of the nijsseni-group - like A. baenschi - form breeding pairs instead of harems. An extra female in a breeding tank is often a dead female.

 

[ericbullock]

Thanks again...I do appreciate it!

-eric-