stocking 72g

[lemonlime]

I have a 72g planted tank with quite a bit of driftwood and I'd say moderately planted. I'm eyeing a pair of baenschi and was curious about stocking opinions.

Current inhabitants: 9x corydoras sterbai and 1x L260 Queen Arabesque 1.75"

Would like to stock with some tetras as well, probably rummynose and emporer

Spawning the Inkas would be great! ..if i could manage to do so

So, would just the pair of Inkas be all I could take if I was really after breeding?
If not, what would be some other apistos that may get along with the Inkas?
I think I have read that apistos from different complexes should mostly ignore eachother, true?

I also have a 36g empty if that would be what's required for spawning..

 

[Mike Wise]

My personal opinion is that a breeding tank is best for breeding and a community tank is for show. I would use the 36 g with the A. baenschi. Add many hiding/breeding caves and a couple of top-dwelling target fish (One or 2 Emporers would probably be OK, but not Rummy-nose Tetras).

 

[AdamT]

I have a community tank, and my A. Trifasciata breed in it irregularly. Even though it is heavily planted, babies never last more than about 4 days. Babies only survive from this tank if I siphon them out and raise them alone, which is too bad - I'm trying to get some offspring to breed in a different tank so I can watch the parental care for longer. Getting a well-adjusted fish is all about early childhood education, ya know? :biggrin:

It's hard to resist putting tetras in yer community tank. Rummynose tetras are totally one of my favorites. I also understand that the black phantoms are cool, and I myself think that penguin / hockystick tetras are kinda neat... But that's just me. Anyway, your tetras will totally munch on apisto babies. And queen arabesque might decide it likes eating apisto eggs off the wall. You can set up a community tank and cross your fingers for babies, and siphon out 10-20 of 'em if you manage to get some... but people who are really serious about breeding do it in separate tanks.