Rescaped 75 Gallon

[ApistoNewb]

The other day I upgraded my 40 gallon breeder with 2 macmasteri, neon tetra, green cories and cherry barbs into a 75 gallon . I also moved the plants over to the 75 gallon as well.
Plan is to definitely add 20 more neon tetra, already have 14 in there, 2-3 more cories and few more cherry barbs.
I'm far from being an aquascapist but I think it came out alright. I'll probably add more plants too

 

[anewbie]

I would add more caves via driftwood that has curves and nooks that the fishes can get under; of course if you put in a ton of leaves that might work but they will have to replaced as they decay. The problem with the current scape is that there aren't any great hiding areas.

Also if the macs are m/f they won't mix well with the cory.... as the cory will intrude upon their space and they will attack the cory.

 

[ApistoNewb]

I would add more caves via driftwood that has curves and nooks that the fishes can get under; of course if you put in a ton of leaves that might work but they will have to replaced as they decay. The problem with the current scape is that there aren't any great hiding areas.

Also if the macs are m/f they won't mix well with the cory.... as the cory will intrude upon their space and they will attack the cory.

I've tried peat leaves before, and I just didn't like the way they broke down in the water. Adding more wood with more anubias and fern is definitely doable as I have 3-4 more pieces of wood left.

I want to say I have two females for macmasteri. Hard to tell as both are maybe 1.5 inches, if that. Maybe smaller.

 

[ApistoNewb]

I would add more caves via driftwood that has curves and nooks that the fishes can get under; of course if you put in a ton of leaves that might work but they will have to replaced as they decay. The problem with the current scape is that there aren't any great hiding areas.

Also if the macs are m/f they won't mix well with the cory.... as the cory will intrude upon their space and they will attack the cory.

What do you think the sex maybe or too young still.

 

[MacZ]

The colouration makes sexing them veeery tricky.
I'd not dare makng a guess.

 

[ApistoNewb]

The colouration makes sexing them veeery tricky.
I'd not dare makng a guess.

Thx. I'll wait until they get more size and then repost

 

[MacZ]

Definitely your best bet.

 

[Mike Wise]

To me an excellent community tank (but a terrible tank with breeding apistos)

 

[ApistoNewb]

To me an excellent community tank (but a terrible tank with breeding apistos)

That's what I was going for as far as a community. But not sure how to take the terrible tank for breeding apistos comment lol. If they both end up as females, then I'm leaving it alone. Wasn't going for breeding.

 

[MacZ]

Mike's motto is: A community tank is not a breeding tank and I agree. Brooding Apistos are a menace for any fish getting too close to the fry.

 

[Mike Wise]

... and the stress on a female trying to protect her brood from all those Neons is incredible. I hope for your sake and that of the fish that the apistos are the same sex, preferably males.

 

[ApistoNewb]

... and the stress on a female trying to protect her brood from all those Neons is incredible. I hope for your sake and that of the fish that the apistos are the same sex, preferably males.

It'll be a waiting game on sex determination. I don't really see any elongated pointed rear or upper fins. They're only 1.25-1.5 inches, definitely no bigger. also the lack of coloration in gills, etc.

Could it be because they're still young on determining sex? These are my first apistos I've ever owned.
I keep bigger CA and SA cichlids.

 

[anewbie]

It'll be a waiting game on sex determination. I don't really see any elongated pointed rear or upper fins. They're only 1.25-1.5 inches, definitely no bigger. also the lack of coloration in gills, etc.

Could it be because they're still young on determining sex? These are my first apistos I've ever owned.
I keep bigger CA and SA cichlids.

It is mostly because they are domestic; and the process of selective breeding to produce certain colours or forms result in many of the normal traits for determing sex are lost; it isn't always like this but for this specific breed and colour form that is what happened.

 

[ApistoNewb]

It is mostly because they are domestic; and the process of selective breeding to produce certain colours or forms result in many of the normal traits for determing sex are lost; it isn't always like this but for this specific breed and colour form that is what happened.

Agh I see. Are there any signs I should look for in sex recognition?

 

[MacZ]

Besides fin shapes, which will show quite late, only behaviour and, at one point size. Whether anything else will show up - I can't predict.

 

[ApistoNewb]

Besides fin shapes, which will show quite late, only behaviour and, at one point size. Whether anything else will show up - I can't predict.

Thank you.