New to Apistos

[Philster]

Hi folks, just joined the forum. Nice place you have here. I have pretty heavily planted 6 foot tank and wondered how many Apistos and what species would be acceptable? I am interested in keeping Trio's. There are 7 cardinal tetra's, 8 SAE's, 50 amano shrimp, 6 dwarf corydoras and a few small longfin bristlenose. Thanks in advance.

Philster.

 

[Mike Wise]

First welcome to the apisto forum. You'll find a lot of good information here. The number of apistos that can be safely housed together in your "pretty heavily planted 6 foot tank" really depends on many factors. I usually suggest each apisto have a personal territory about 12"/30cm in diameter. This varies depending on the tank's purpose (community vs. breeding), the species and each individual fish's temperament, tank layout, etc.

 

[Philster]

Hi Mike and thanks for the reply. Based on what you're saying then I am looking at only 2 trios. If the tank was more community based than breeding would it be okay to house a few more males of various species, say 9 fish or so vs 2 trios?

Phil.

 

[Bilbo]

Welcome to apistogramma.com

Sounds like quite an impressive setup, I am sure we would love to see what it looks like.

With dwarf cichlids its more about the footprint of the tank and less about its volume so if its 6 x 3 then your idea should be ok. I still wouldnt do it though.

It would pay to do some research on the different types first because some are more closely related than others and are more likely to fight or try to cross and some are more aggressive. My personal thoughts are that 9 apistos of various species in a standard 6'er is not a great idea.

Do you mean 9 male fish all of different species or a few pairs and trios with mostly males?

 

[Philster]

Welcome to apistogramma.com

Sounds like quite an impressive setup, I am sure we would love to see what it looks like.

With dwarf cichlids its more about the footprint of the tank and less about its volume so if its 6 x 3 then your idea should be ok. I still wouldnt do it though.

It would pay to do some research on the different types first because some are more closely related than others and are more likely to fight or try to cross and some are more aggressive. My personal thoughts are that 9 apistos of various species in a standard 6'er is not a great idea.

Do you mean 9 male fish all of different species or a few pairs and trios with mostly males?

This is my tank. I was thinking 2 trios and 4 other males that do not look similar to the trios. I'm not apposed to some agression but just not out right carnage. Can you suggest some species that will co-exist. I honestly cannot find a chart or site that has this kind of information.

 

[Mike Wise]

Your tank is very impressive. I see no problem keeping 9 apistos in it, especially if most are males. Males will frequently threaten each other, but rarely damage each other if there is some place for the 'loser' to escape. Females, on the other hand, can be downright vicious when it comes to establishing a breeding territory. I would try species with different body shapes and finnage. If it were me, I would avoid keeping the more territorial/aggressive species (atahualpa-, nijsseni-, & macmasteri-groups) with more mellow forms.

 

[Tedstank]

Hi Philster and welcome.

Your setup is beautiful. Even 2 trios of the right fish will be beatiful. I did very well in a 55 gal with a trio of triple red cacs and a trio of Borellis. As mentioned before...too many females and you open up a war zone for territories. If your intensions are breeding, you will recover very few fry in a community tank, fry make good live food!!!

 

[Philster]

Your tank is very impressive. I see no problem keeping 9 apistos in it, especially if most are males. Males will frequently threaten each other, but rarely damage each other if there is some place for the 'loser' to escape. Females, on the other hand, can be downright vicious when it comes to establishing a breeding territory. I would try species with different body shapes and finnage. If it were me, I would avoid keeping the more territorial/aggressive species (atahualpa-, nijsseni-, & macmasteri-groups) with more mellow forms.

Thank you. So I get the impression if the less agressive species are kept it is okay to have more males. I was concerned that with males, if there were no females, there would be a lack of display colors.

 

[Philster]

Your setup is beautiful. Even 2 trios of the right fish will be beatiful. I did very well in a 55 gal with a trio of triple red cacs and a trio of Borellis. As mentioned before...too many females and you open up a war zone for territories. If your intensions are breeding, you will recover very few fry in a community tank, fry make good live food!!!

Thanks Ted. I figured if I had more males it would be the other way around. Would they not harass the females similar to what male guppies do to their females?

 

[Tedstank]

My experience is that when the females want to spawn or are ready....they rule the tank!

 

[Philster]

Very interesting, thank you

 

[Mike Wise]

With apistos, it is the female who decides with whom, where and when breeding occurs. This is especially true in a large, well structured aquarium.

 

[Philster]

Thanks Mike.