- Messages
- 17
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
Hi all, my first question here. I'm not new to fish and aquatic gardening, but I've never kept Cichlids before.
I've been given the opportunity to acquire a pair of A. cacatuoides, A. agassizii, and/or A. borellii juveniles (for free) and I'm trying to decide if a tank I'm currently setting up is big enough or otherwise appropriate. For the most part, water parameters for these fish seem straightforward enough but I'm not sure about tank size. In the past I've found that the "minimum tank size" suggested for many fish is far too small.
I'd like to put perhaps two or three (1 male, 2 females I guess) in a 76 liter/20 gallon "high" tank (61cm / 24" long, 30.5 cm/12" wide) - is this enough space for the Apistos to live comfortably for a long time? I'm not interested in the perfect breeding setup, I just want happy healthy fish. The last thing I want is miserable fish that just “surviveâ€Â. This particular tank will have plenty of plant cover and rock caves, perhaps driftwood, high light (1.3 Watts/liter) and co2 injection. Tankmates would most likely be a small group of Tetras or small Barbs and some Amano shrimp. Comments?
Which of the Apistos listed above would be best for this sized tank (if any)?
Is 1 male : 2 females better than a single pair? (I’ve read they are harem breeders and I worry that a single female might get constantly harassed – does this happen with Apisto pairs?).
Unfortunately, I really don't have the option of going with a larger tank for the time being - aside from the fact that I've already spent so much on lighting, filter, heater, plant substrate, and other equipment for this particular tank, I live in an apartment and I'm stretching my available space as it is. If I must, I'll leave the Apistos until I can give them the space they need for happy lives.
One last question: how long do Apistos typically live?
Thanks in advance. Any other comments would be appreciated too.
Cheers.
I've been given the opportunity to acquire a pair of A. cacatuoides, A. agassizii, and/or A. borellii juveniles (for free) and I'm trying to decide if a tank I'm currently setting up is big enough or otherwise appropriate. For the most part, water parameters for these fish seem straightforward enough but I'm not sure about tank size. In the past I've found that the "minimum tank size" suggested for many fish is far too small.
I'd like to put perhaps two or three (1 male, 2 females I guess) in a 76 liter/20 gallon "high" tank (61cm / 24" long, 30.5 cm/12" wide) - is this enough space for the Apistos to live comfortably for a long time? I'm not interested in the perfect breeding setup, I just want happy healthy fish. The last thing I want is miserable fish that just “surviveâ€Â. This particular tank will have plenty of plant cover and rock caves, perhaps driftwood, high light (1.3 Watts/liter) and co2 injection. Tankmates would most likely be a small group of Tetras or small Barbs and some Amano shrimp. Comments?
Which of the Apistos listed above would be best for this sized tank (if any)?
Is 1 male : 2 females better than a single pair? (I’ve read they are harem breeders and I worry that a single female might get constantly harassed – does this happen with Apisto pairs?).
Unfortunately, I really don't have the option of going with a larger tank for the time being - aside from the fact that I've already spent so much on lighting, filter, heater, plant substrate, and other equipment for this particular tank, I live in an apartment and I'm stretching my available space as it is. If I must, I'll leave the Apistos until I can give them the space they need for happy lives.
One last question: how long do Apistos typically live?
Thanks in advance. Any other comments would be appreciated too.
Cheers.