Apisto (Cockatoo) Stocking Question

T

tankenvy

AC Members
Apr 4, 2007
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Thinking of adding some mellow(ish) SA dwarfs. Saw a trio of Apistogramma cacatuoides (cockatoo) on sale (1 male, 2 females). Gorgeous fish! But a bit worried I don't have enough tank for these guys, which can be a bit territorial, right?

I've got a 38 gal, heavily planted, with lots of bog wood. New tank converted from my 20 g about a month ago, cycling nicely (no spikes yet; been doing lots of water changes). Here's the critters I currently have ( I know, these aren't all great fish for cycling a new tank, but i already had most of them in the 20)

-3 rummy-nosed tetras
-1 lemon tetra (6 years old! the last of a school of 5)
-4 otos
-3 cory pandas, 1 leopard cory
-3 harlequin rasboras
-1 clown pleco (new yesterday...hope he can handle a cycling tank!)
-1 dwarf gourami (ditto above)

96 watts of light, water test yesterday showed no nitrites, ammonia. (Not testing for nitrates; should I?)

Thanks!
 
Apisto's can easily be bred in 10 gallon tanks. A 38 is more than enough space, but I wouldn't expect fry to last too long with the other fish in the tank.
 
rich311k said:
They should do well in your tank, once the tank is stabilized.
Click to expand...

How long do you think the tank will take to become stabilized? What criteria do you base that on? My water tests seem to be okay so far.

Also, on the fry not lasting, I thought apistos do a good job of guarding their young?

Thanks for the replies!
 
Cichlids will guard their eggs and fry, up to a point. However, a couple weeks after they become free-swimming they tend to lose the protective instinct and either eat or abandon the fry.
 
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