55 Gallon Apisto/GBR stocking

[mr.key]

I have a 55 gallon and I have been thinking about stocking in 2 pairs of GBR's or only one pair and a pair of apistogramma (borelli or cacuatoides as they are most commonly available locally bred).

Which one will work better or neither. Advice from wiser heads please.

 

[Lupin]

I'd get a pair of blue rams and then a trio of apistos.

 

[irishspy]

Will these be the only fish in the tank?

 

[mr.key]

no there will be a school of cardinals 20 or so a couple otos one siamensis amano shrimp, 3 bronze cories and then apistos or rams

 

[mendicu]

I have also been thinking of adding a trio of apistos to my 55 gal, but even with caves and such for them my two pairs of rams are fairly territorial, I don't think they would all manage together very nicely.

 

[mr.key]

To clarify this is an either/or proposition. I would be uncomfortable with all of them in this tank.

Thank you for the comment though as unless someone states otherwise I am leaning toward a pair of GBR's and a pair/trio of apistos.

 

[Inka4040]

A 55 is a great size tank for a harem of apistos with two males. This will enable you to see a lot of the interesting behavior that manifests itself when multiple males are present. Both the borelli and the cacas will be perfect for this, as would agassizis. I'm assuming the tank will be heavily planted? Most apistos will be all too glad to dispatch all but the largest amano shrimp though, so you may have to be a bit careful with that. I know that my baenschis will hunt down any shrimp in my 29 and eat it despite very heavy planting and an abundance of hiding places.

 

[mr.key]

Yes the tank is very heavily planted. I posted bad pictures of it somewhere...

Will I be able to have a harem and a pair of rams? The rams are boughten.

 

[terror spawnin]

I have stocked these species together with no problem in a 55. I started with four rams and they only payed attention to each other. After two years two of the rams died and it seemed to me that the other two got bored with each other and started picking on the "cockatoo" when crossing paths.

If you keep your ram numbers to at least three and have plenty of plants and lace rock caves you will have a good time. Kribs will be a good choice too since they take no bull from anyone their size.