Question about pairing apistogramma

[aarhud]

Hello,

For those of you that have bred the Apistogramma that tend to pair off instead of forming harems, what is the pair relationship like?

Are pairing Apistogramma similar to Pelvicachromis where the female sticks close to the cave/eggs/fry and the male guards the perimeter? Is there any role swapping such as the male fanning the eggs? Just trying to get a feel for how a pairing Apistogramma works, from youtube videos the pairs do not seem to work together like other pairing fish.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[slimbolen99]

Depends on the species I suppose. Both color forms of agassizi's that I have - the male doesn't do much more than patrol the area. Wouldn't say he even chases anything away; of course, there aren't any other apistos in their tank - just neon tetras. The eunotus that I have, the male can be pretty aggressive towards the neons...but not so much as to cause any damage. Have never noticed a male of any species that I have tending towards the eggs or fry. Mostly he just tries to stay away from the female!

 

[aarhud]

Yes it depends greatly on the species. From reading posts from Mike Wise and doing a little reading there are some groups that tend to form pairs more often. I have never kept the pairing types.

What I am trying to figure out is the behavior of a pairing Apistogramma any different than the more polygamous species.

 

[Mike Wise]

For the most part, breeding/care of eggs/fry behavior is the same in both pair and polygamous species: male patrols a large territory; female takes care of the eggs/fry in a smaller territory, within the male's territory. Courtship is a little different. The male will usually select 1 female and drive all other females (and males) out of his territory.

 

[aarhud]

Alright, that's sort of what I was imagining. I think I would be more interested in Pelvicachromis since I am after a pairing dwarf.

Thank you.