Which should i add?

[gex18]

I have a pair of apisto nijsseni in a 125 US gallon, but want to add more (there is plenty of bogwood/plant/cave cover), should i add another pair of nijsseni, more females (do they form harems), or should i add another apitso type, i have access to;

Aggassizi
Cacatoudies
Macmasteri?

 

[cootwarm]

You can definitely add more females. According to Romers Atlas, nijsseni males can be monogamous or polygamous. Personally, I find their behavior more interesting with harems rather than pairs. I would get more nijsseni and stick with 1 apisto species.

With a 125 gallon tank, if the nijsseni are still young, you also should be able to add a second male depending on the temperment of the dominant male. I've found that when there is enough room (and hiding places) for a second male, it enhances the behavior of the dominant male. With a potentual replacement in the picture, the dominant male struts his stuff more often.

If I ever get a larger home, I'd like as big a tank as possible with a colony of just 1 species of apisto for the bottom, a school of cardinal tetras for mid-water, and a school of marbled hatchetfish for the surface area. Maybe some pencilfish if it isn't too crowded. I'm thinking of viejita, but nijsseni would also make a cool colony, with 3 or 4 yellow panda looking females, each tending their own little family group.

If there is plenty of plants, caves, and driftwood for cover, a small school of cardinals shouldn't be too bad a problem for the fry (just leave a night light near the tank). Hatchetfish hangout at the surface, so they aren't a threat. And my beckfordi pencilfish wouldn't hurt a "fry". :lol:

Michael

 

[Randall]

Tank mates for Apistogramma nijsenni

Hello Gex,

Me thinks Michael offers excellent advise. In a 125-gallon tank, however, you can add another Apistogramma species, if you like. Given your options, I'd go with A. aggassizi. Both species thrive in soft, acidic water and should be able to hold their own in a tank of such great size.

A. macmasteri is also found in very soft, acidic water, but is not as socially aggressive as A. nijsenni and A. aggassizi, with the former being more aggressive than the latter.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn