Water Parameters and Stocking

[r.sand]

Hey all,
I’ve been wanting to get some apistos for my 30gal (30” x 12” x 18”). My lfs has some red shoulder macmasteri (sold as viejita) but I’m a bit concerned about my water parameters. Currently I’m dealing with pH 7.5, KH 120 ppm, GH 140 ppm. Would that be an issue for the macmasteri, and would they even have a chance of breeding in those conditions? If not I’ll probably wait for some cacatuoides or borelli since they’re supposed to be hardier.
Also, how many fish would you recommend for a tank this size? I was thinking 1 male with 2-3 females. Right now I have 5 green neon tetra and 1 clown pleco in the tank.
Thanks in advance!

 

[MacZ]

The parameters are not very important with domestic strains and A. macmasteri are not a blackwater species anyway.
The pleco might be a problem though, as it's nocturnal.
Numbers: I think with the right structures 1m,2f is possible, the footprint is too small for 3 females.
With the neons there will likely be no successful breeding though.

 

[r.sand]

Cool, thanks for the info. That’s what I thought about the domestic strains but thought I’d get a second opinion. I plan on moving any pair to a 10 gal for breeding if I want fry but I’m mostly just excited to see the behaviour.

 

[yukondog]

Like said, I would remove the neon's and pleco, if you have trouble breeding because of water issues, you might try rain water mixed with your local water. Good luck and welcome to the sight.

 

[MacZ]

Cool, thanks for the info. That’s what I thought about the domestic strains but thought I’d get a second opinion. I plan on moving any pair to a 10 gal for breeding if I want fry but I’m mostly just excited to see the behaviour.

In that case just have fun and enjoy. But keep an eye on that pleco. Should you have unexplained stressed Apistos after a while it might be the cuplrit.

 

[Bowluvr]

I haven't had good luck with more than a single pair of macmasteri long term in a tank your size (though it is a great size in general, and one of my favorite tank dimensions alongside 40 breeders). If you do go with more than one female, be sure to have a place available to remove the odd female out to if the pair decides to make her life miserable. I have had male domestic macmasteri get over 3 inches Body Length (not counting fins), so with good care, that 3-ft tank will become just large enough for a compatible pair. I kept a large male and 3 large females in a 75 gallon tank (4 ft x 18 inch footprint) with lots of hiding places, and cover up at the surface, and the sub-dominant females were not given nearly as much peace as one would think they'd get in that amount of space. The tank started with 2 males and 4 females, but I had to remove the smaller male and most-harassed female after they were almost killed. The fish in my portrait photo (father of the ones mentioned here) got just as large, and he and his mate ended up getting a 4-ft 55 gallon to themselves. He was also a smidge over 3 inches body length at full size (he lived to almost 5 years old), while his mate was a solid 2.5 inches body length. With good care, they live longer and grow larger than one might expect. And they can be real buttheads.