New to Apistogramma.

[KevinA]

Hi Folks,

I am totally new to Apistogramma, I have kept them as curios but never realized the beauty and diversity of these dwarf Cichlids.

I am setting up Juwel Lido 120 liter for some and I'd love some basic advice on numbers for such a Tank and Tank-mates, I have an idea on the ones that are least difficult to keep and breed like the cacatuoides etc. I will be filtering via a Fluval external 205 and have access to RO Water.

I will end up rambling if I continue so I will hand it over to you guys.

The Tank will be for Apistos, ie. species but with dithers if needed and a clean up crew if permissible.

Thanks,

Kev.

 

[bigbird]

Hi Kev,

I use pencil fish as dithers and ottos as clean up gang. I use silica sand as substrate and use pleanty of rocks, driftwood and plants with oak leaves. I try to give the Apistos as muchhiding spots as possible. i have the lights on a tomer for 11hours a day. feeding mixture of flake with tid pits and frozen foods. Cacs are a good starter and good luck. cheers jk

 

[KevinA]

Hi Kev,

I use pencil fish as dithers and ottos as clean up gang. I use silica sand as substrate and use pleanty of rocks, driftwood and plants with oak leaves. I try to give the Apistos as muchhiding spots as possible. i have the lights on a tomer for 11hours a day. feeding mixture of flake with tid pits and frozen foods. Cacs are a good starter and good luck. cheers jk

Thanks for the info, I love Nannostomus beckfordi, really sultry colours on the males and I love their hovering effect. I want to have plants but someone said subdued lighting is best for Apistos, any ideas?

Kev.

 

[Hack022]

I have very similar set-ups as Bigbird in my breeding set-ups, although have used ecco complete as a substrate in one tank, silica in the other. Otto's are a great cleaner, also have L182's starlight plecos in with my cacatuoides and have had no issues(I think any smaller veggie pleco would be OK)

In my large community tank I have beckfordi pencilfish, cardnials, rummy nose and some corys, along with some apistos and Bolivians. Everyone gets along but I doubt any breeding occurs.

I really like using the Indian almond leaves to create some ground cover, along with driftwood and lots of mosses and plants.

Welcome to Apistos,

Tony

 

[bigbird]

good and tough plants are java fern, vasilia and anubis. Also try to get hold of a floating plant, this reduces the light and keeps the apistos happier. For caves I also use cocunut shells or clay pots. cheer jk