Question about overstocking A. cacatuoides

[ErtyJr]

Ok so recently a guy wanted to buy many of my A. cacatuoides fry from me. I refused him, because I happen to know he has a 65 gallon, and he plans on stocking many GBR and Apisto together in it with yo yo loaches.

His "bright idea" is that by having many dwarves the aggression will be spread and the fish will be fine. I don't know the numbers he plans on, I just know the plan.

I refused because I love my apistogramma and want them to all live happy lives even the ones I sell. But it got me to thinking...

I'm no expert, I'm still learning everyday, so I wanted to see what the actual experts here thought. I don't want to refuse a customer and come off as "high and mighty" or "all knowing" and then it turns out it's not so bad for the fish. I know often people stock 30 longs with A. cacatuoides community setups. Infact I hope to try one, one day.

What are you all opinions? Is it a good idea to refuse, and in the best interest of my fish? Or am I just being overly dramatic?

 

[Mike Wise]

It works for Rift Lake cichlids, but not apistos. Unless the tank is so full of hiding places than you can't see anything in it, you will eventually end up with 2-3 dominant males, a few more females and many, many dead fish. It probably could work if the tank was filled with leaf litter to the top and wall to wall.

 

[ErtyJr]

It works for Rift Lake cichlids, but not apistos. Unless the tank is so full of hiding places than you can't see anything in it, you will eventually end up with 2-3 dominant males, a few more females and many, many dead fish. It probably could work if the tank was filled with leaf litter to the top and wall to wall.

Haha mike, you know it's funny you say that, because it is exactly what I said. I told him if he wanted to do it the tanks needed leaf litter untill it overflowed from the top!