Rio Ucayali Biotope, Perú.

[luisramos126]

So 90cm... too small for a working combination with any Corydoras.


Possibly going to change at some point. Remove the nijsseni rather sooner than later. (Personally I'd keep them and remove the A. cacatuoides.)

I removed the A. cacatuoides. The nijsseni start to fight for a cave with the cacatuoides.

 

[MacZ]

So, if I leave it I still call it biotope or not? If does not matter I will leave it until I find some plant.

See, "biotope" is a very flexible term. It can mean simply a small but working ecosystem, regardless of the origin of species. It can also mean a type of habitat, like "South American blackwater creek" with South American fish, regardles whether one species is from the colombian Rio Negro basin and the other from the Essequibo in Suriname. It can also mean "this exact creek 200m east of the village of Pebas in Peru, 1km upstream". The definition of your tank is at your discretion.

My tank for example is just a habitat type igarape/morichal. My fish are from three different places. My Nannostomus eques are wild caught from Peru (the species is wide spread from Peru to Venezuela and Suriname). The Dicrossus filamentosus are of the Orinoco variety, hailing from Colombia. And the Hemigrammus filamentosus are originally from Araguaia/Tocatins in Brazil. So the Nannostomus are the connecting part, they occur with both other species, but the others never meet in the wild.

Check this article, I don't know if in Puerto Rico I can find any of these species. https://www.researchgate.net/public...tat_Suitability_in_South_America/figures?lo=1

Yeah, sorry, no. The species from South America have not entered the trade yet. Only recently some people from the UK collected some, but they are not yet available commercially. I would go for Nymphaea lotus as a stand-in. They all look almost identical to the untrained eye.

 

[MacZ]

I removed the A. cacatuoides. The nijsseni start to fight for a cave with the cacatuoides.

As was to be expected.

 

[luisramos126]

See, "biotope" is a very flexible term. It can mean simply a small but working ecosystem, regardless of the origin of species. It can also mean a type of habitat, like "South American blackwater creek" with South American fish, regardles whether one species is from the colombian Rio Negro basin and the other from the Essequibo in Suriname. It can also mean "this exact creek 200m east of the village of Pebas in Peru, 1km upstream". The definition of your tank is at your discretion.

My tank for example is just a habitat type igarape/morichal. My fish are from three different places. My Nannostomus eques are wild caught from Peru (the species is wide spread from Peru to Venezuela and Suriname). The Dicrossus filamentosus are of the Orinoco variety, hailing from Colombia. And the Hemigrammus filamentosus are originally from Araguaia/Tocatins in Brazil. So the Nannostomus are the connecting part, they occur with both other species, but the others never meet in the wild.

I understand what you're saying, make sense. So far, I like how my tank came out, that's the main reason.


View attachment 13165

Your tank looks awesome!

Yeah, sorry, no. The species from South America have not entered the trade yet. Only recently some people from the UK collected some, but they are not yet available commercially. I would go for Nymphaea lotus as a stand-in. They all look almost identical to the untrained eye.

I like those Nymphaea. Maybe later I will add some

 

[luisramos126]

Fish Update!

 

[MacZ]

So far, I like how my tank came out, that's the main reason.

And that's all that matters when it comes to looks. Two factors decide: Priority one is the tank is appropriate habitat for the fish. Priority two is that you like the looks of the tank. If the two get into conflict the fishes needs are obviously more important.

Your tank looks awesome!

Thanks! It is less work than you might think.

I like those Nymphaea. Maybe later I will add some

Started out with one, it produced some runners, now there are two and both mainly produce floating leaves, providing cover. Under them the fish move freely in what seems to be open water.

 

[MacZ]

Fish Update!

Forgot uploading a picture?

 

[luisramos126]

I try to attach a video an won't upload.

 

[anewbie]

What species is that ?

 

[luisramos126]

What species is that ?

Apistogramma nijsseni

 

[MacZ]

Definitely the nicer fish for your tank.

 

[anewbie]

Apistogramma nijsseni

Weird - looks very different than mine:

--
I sitll have the female and she is large and almost as dark as your first picture.

 

[luisramos126]

Weird - looks very different than mine:
View attachment 13187
--
I sitll have the female and she is large and almost as dark as your first picture.

Maybe is the light and the blackwater make it looks different.

Check out this video https://m.facebook.com/groups/apistogramma/permalink/2567717210042959/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Or

https://m.facebook.com/groups/177913852263095/permalink/6326160930771659/?mibextid=Nif5oz

 

[luisramos126]

Definitely the nicer fish for your tank.

Thanks, hopefully I can reproduce them.

 

[MacZ]

Weird - looks very different than mine:
View attachment 13187
--
I sitll have the female and she is large and almost as dark as your first picture.

It's definitely the light.

 

[Tom C]

If you want the A. nijsseni to feel "like home", you may add lots of leaves to the (nice) tank.
When I collected A. nijsseni near Jenaro Herrera (Rio Ucayali drainage), the habitat looked like this:

Under the leaves where we sat down, we noticed we had company:

Besides the A. nijsseni, there were A. cf. agassizii:

Hatchetfish and very small Characins:

Moenkhausia (agnesae?):

and Copeina sp.

 

[luisramos126]

If you want the A. nijsseni to feel "like home", you may add lots of leaves to the (nice) tank.
When I collected A. nijsseni near Jenaro Herrera (Rio Ucayali drainage), the habitat looked like this:

Under the leaves where we sat down, we noticed we had company:

Besides the A. nijsseni, there were A. cf. agassizii:

Hatchetfish and very small Characins:

Moenkhausia (agnesae?):

and Copeina sp.

Thanks Tom for the information and examples (photos), that's what I need to add more leaves.

I am planning to add some
Swietenia mahagoni - Mohogany leaves
Plantain leaves
Cappata leaves
Bamboo leaves

Seed pods
Coconut flowers

 

[MacZ]

Bamboo leaves

There are poisonous bamboo species, so I'd leave them out unless you know the species and checked they're safe.

Coconut flowers

Rots much too quickly, might trigger a bacteria bloom.

Seed pods

What pods exactly?

Concerning the leaves: While in ature for sure also green leaves enter the water streams, in an aquarium you should avoid that. They contain much more nutrients than brown leaves and thus can cause bacteria to explode. Also add the leaves in batches. 5 big leaves every week until you have the amount you want.

 

[luisramos126]

There are poisonous bamboo species, so I'd leave them out unless you know the species and checked they're safe.

I don't know the bamboo species but I used before.

Rots much too quickly, might trigger a bacteria bloom.

Large Coco Palm Flowers (3 Pack)

These large woody coco flowers are another favourite of ours. They are not only aesthetically pleasing they can be used to make shelters for your blackwater aquarium inhabitants. They also last a long time in the aquarium and really add a touch of realism to your blackwater aquascape.

www.castledawnaquatics.com

This one?

What pods exactly?

Casuarina seed pods, mohogany seed pods, Indian almond seed pods, and cacao seed pods.

I used it before and I am currently using it in my German blue rams tank.

Concerning the leaves: While in ature for sure also green leaves enter the water streams, in an aquarium you should avoid that. They contain much more nutrients than brown leaves and thus can cause bacteria to explode. Also add the leaves in batches. 5 big leaves every week until you have the amount you want.

Perfect!

Any leaves or seed pods that you recommend?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

...Any leaves or seed pods that you recommend?

I don't know where you live, but I use Oak,(Quercus spp.), Magnolia grandiflora and Eriobotrya japonica as structural leaf litter.

Cheers Darrel