What Apistos to get?

[Mottfish]

Basically stuck on what species of Apisto I should look to get.

The tank is 100+ gallons which I'm making into a blackwater biotope (A shallow pool/puddle) atm it's got plenty of branch/root like bogwood and leaf litter covering the bottom. Not sure on exact water parameters as it's still settling, but it should have 0 hardness as I'm using RO water and I'm hoping to get the pH down to around 6. (May post exact wp and pics later!)

I've done a bit of research but am still not sure on what to get? I'd like to get some hatchetfish, either black-winged or marbled, and have lowered the water levels to prevent them jumping and will get some amazon frogbit as surface cover. (Tank will probably hold 70g when finished.)

Most of the apisto species that I can get pretty easily don't seem to be from these types of waters (such as A. nijsseni, A. trifasciata, which I've read come from areas with dense vegetation?)

Has any1 got any suggestions? (Would prefer more wild/natural types?)

Thanks! :biggrin:

 

[dw1305]

Hi Mottfish,
I'm not far from you (other side of Bath) and this is not a good area for buying Apisto's. If you can get them A. nijssseni or A. panduro both come from the sort of habitat you described. Maidenhead Aquatics (at Leekes in Melksham) had some nice A. panduro about a month ago. I sell my spare fish to Parkers at Iron Acton, but I've only sold A. cacatuoides to them recently.

Try contacting Steve (Steve1200) on this forum (or on EBAY), as he is a top bloke and has some top quality dwarf cichlids for sale. I think he has A. baenschii at the moment which would be ideal for you.

cheers Darrel