Trio of Apisto agassizii: aggression

[FishandHorses]

Hi all. I have 3 apisto agassizii. 1 male 2 females in a planted 29gallon community tank with lots of driftwood and caves. 6 embers and 5 cardinals. I started with a pair of apistos and the males was nipping at the female. So I added one more female and the male likes the second female better. But first girl isn’t thriving. She is getting chased off by both male and second female to the point she has a sunken belly. Not getting enough food. I move both girls into a 10gallon isolation tank and hand feeding the 1st girl. Better but other female is continues to chase her. Is it ok to keep both in the 10gallon until I fatten her up? Should I move the nipping female back to community tank? 10gallon is a lightly planted tank with rocks to hide in. First photo is of skinny girl. Second photo shows both girls with skinny girl is on the right side of tank. 3rd photo is male in community tank. Not great photos sorry

 

[anewbie]

I would move the female that the male 'likes' back to the 29. The truth is that i think it will be hard to keep all 3 in the 29 given the aggression level and aquarium size even if well scaped. As i've started to keep my larger species in larger aquariums i've noticed a very radical change in behavior. While agassizii are not particularly large i found them a bit more aggressive at times (perhaps my fishes were atypical if so others will chime in). Once i get to something around 40b or even 65 gallons (48 long 16 across) i'm finding i can keep quite a bit more without too much aggression. Of course how the tank is scape makes a differences.

 

[MacZ]

Of course how the tank is scape makes a differences.

Amd let's face it, the tank is much too open and barely structured. It takes sightbarriers from glass to glass and a lot of structural leaf litter. This tank is almost empty.

 

[FishandHorses]

Amd let's face it, the tank is much too open and barely structured. It takes sightbarriers from glass to glass and a lot of structural leaf litter. This tank is almost empty.

Yes, this is my isolation tank. I don’t want a lot of stuff in it if I need to use it for sick or isolation of new fish.

 

[FishandHorses]

I would move the female that the male 'likes' back to the 29. The truth is that i think it will be hard to keep all 3 in the 29 given the aggression level and aquarium size even if well scaped. As i've started to keep my larger species in larger aquariums i've noticed a very radical change in behavior. While agassizii are not particularly large i found them a bit more aggressive at times (perhaps my fishes were atypical if so others will chime in). Once i get to something around 40b or even 65 gallons (48 long 16 across) i'm finding i can keep quite a bit more without too much aggression. Of course how the tank is scape makes a differences.

Yes, I have a 40g breeder tank but I had to break down after being overrun by pest snail. But I am totally snail free now in this 29g! Except my happy three nereus snails. This was supposed to be a temporary tank except I got the balance so good, no snail, little algae and black water tank, I’m afraid to screw it up!

 

[MacZ]

Yes, this is my isolation tank. I don’t want a lot of stuff in it if I need to use it for sick or isolation of new fish.

I was talking about the main tank.

 

[FishandHorses]

I was talking about the main tank.

Yes, agreed need taller plants to break site line. In meantime, I’ll keep building up my driftwood maze to give them more hiding spots. Thanks!

 

[FishandHorses]

I would move the female that the male 'likes' back to the 29. The truth is that i think it will be hard to keep all 3 in the 29 given the aggression level and aquarium size even if well scaped. As i've started to keep my larger species in larger aquariums i've noticed a very radical change in behavior. While agassizii are not particularly large i found them a bit more aggressive at times (perhaps my fishes were atypical if so others will chime in). Once i get to something around 40b or even 65 gallons (48 long 16 across) i'm finding i can keep quite a bit more without too much aggression. Of course how the tank is scape makes a differences.

Done! Just moved the girl back with her mate. Ill see about getting my 40g B up and running again. Thanks for help

 

[MacZ]

Yes, agreed need taller plants to break site line. In meantime, I’ll keep building up my driftwood maze to give them more hiding spots. Thanks!

And double the amount of wood and leaf litter

 

[Mike Wise]

... and don't plan on many, if any, fry to survive with the cardinals in the tank. But I guess that's not what you want.