Pair or Trio ?

[bbetta]

Hello everyone,
I just found a source in my area with a couple of species of Apistogramma apart from the very common Cacatuoides and Agassizii. I'll probably order a couple or trio of Apistogramma Trifasciata. My tank is 20 gallons (60cm=~23 inches long), full planted. It is currently housing a baby Ancistrus cf. Cirrhosus and will possibly house another small shoal of fish like Ember Tetra, Otocinclus or Pygmy Cory in the future. I've read that Trifasciata are considered aggressive. In my dimensions is it better to buy a couple or a trio in order to counter aggression?

Thanks
Billy

 

[Mike Wise]

With A. trifasciata it is always better to use a trio. It spreads the male's 'ardor' around. That being said, a 15/20High tank is a bit small for a trio unless properly decorated to give each fish a territory of its own.