Apistogramma Cacatuoides does anyone keep them

[manunitedmbuna]

these are very beautiful fish and i am looking at getting a group for a 3og community.

has anyone kept these and what are they like to keep?http://www.aquaristikszene.ch/Boersen/Maiboerse/Angebot_Master/Apistogramma_cacatuoides.jpg

cheers

 

[laurenrocksth]

I always thought that they needed at least 50 gallons. I could be wrong though.

 

[bl00]

Its my understanding that apistos on average get to be about 3 inches. I believe that they pair up, but many people keep a male with 1-3 females. They do like a fair amount of room, but I would say that you could do at least two males or species with 1-3 females each in your 30, plus if you desired, a school of 15 or so tetras and shoal of around 6 cories or 1-2 small plecos.

With apistos, its key to add lots of plants and make sure they have plenty of places to hide in driftwood, pots, or slate.

 

[manunitedmbuna]

thanks that was what i was hoping someone would say.
im thinking 15 black neons, 6 sterbai cories and a pair of the apistogramma cacatuoides.

 

[Caius]

thanks that was what i was hoping someone would say.
im thinking 15 black neons, 6 sterbai cories and a pair of the apistogramma cacatuoides.

I have a pair of cacatuoides triple reds in a 29G with 7 cardinal tetras. My plan is to increase the cardinal school and add 6 pygmy cories, so we're thinking along the same lines. Mine travel throughout the tank, so I'm not sure if it'd be enough room for more than a pair - I believe there is conspecific agression when they start spawning.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Beautiful cichlid! If I still kept community fish, I totally get a few.

 

[bl00]

thanks that was what i was hoping someone would say.
im thinking 15 black neons, 6 sterbai cories and a pair of the apistogramma cacatuoides.

That sounds like a great setup. I'm a big fan of the black neons as well.

 

[bl00]

I have a pair of cacatuoides triple reds in a 29G with 7 cardinal tetras. My plan is to increase the cardinal school and add 6 pygmy cories, so we're thinking along the same lines. Mine travel throughout the tank, so I'm not sure if it'd be enough room for more than a pair - I believe there is conspecific agression when they start spawning.

A big factor is your water hardness. I've heard that they only spawn in very soft water, so if you have harder water you could probably manage another pair.

 

[manunitedmbuna]

okay i will have to check that. i've always loved black neons but there doesn't seem to be many others that like them.everyone else seems to prefer cardinals,neons and rummynose.

 

[bl00]

Generally its just an aesthetic preference, although I think the iridescence of the blacks or the emperors are great.
With rams and apistos, some people cite their choice in schooling fish based on the higher temperature preferences of the centerpieces, but the black neon's seem to be fine at 80 degrees.