Apistogramma cacatuoides Vs German Ram
- Thread starter joeyg2100
- Start date
I hope the 55g stock in your signature is not the community to which you want to add dwarf cichlids 
Looks like it's probably an old list but just checking.
I see you had rams before, how did you like them? Did they breed & live 5+ years for you? Rams tend to be a bit overbred & a little more delicate than my experience with cacs. But they sure are pretty!
Might be time for a change, try something new. I like the apisto's very different male & female appearance but not the old male "hump head" look after a few years. Mine were locally bred & I think that helped with their "sturdiness". The cac males also grew bigger than males rams...or maybe my rams didn't live long enough. I was a much better fish keeper with different water for the apistos, better for both I'm betting.
Are you pretty good about weekly water changes? Water quality, good stock & good foods in that order are important. I'd quarantine them for 4 weeks if possible.
& just to be evil, lol...a 55g is big enough to have a pair of each depending on what else you have with them & décor/tank layout. Each pair will need half the bottom of the tank without more than a bottom feeder or so. Just something to think about...not a "breeding set up" although a fry or 2 might survive if you're lucky.
Bottom line get what you like!
Looks like it's probably an old list but just checking.I see you had rams before, how did you like them? Did they breed & live 5+ years for you? Rams tend to be a bit overbred & a little more delicate than my experience with cacs. But they sure are pretty!
Might be time for a change, try something new. I like the apisto's very different male & female appearance but not the old male "hump head" look after a few years. Mine were locally bred & I think that helped with their "sturdiness". The cac males also grew bigger than males rams...or maybe my rams didn't live long enough. I was a much better fish keeper with different water for the apistos, better for both I'm betting.
Are you pretty good about weekly water changes? Water quality, good stock & good foods in that order are important. I'd quarantine them for 4 weeks if possible.
& just to be evil, lol...a 55g is big enough to have a pair of each depending on what else you have with them & décor/tank layout. Each pair will need half the bottom of the tank without more than a bottom feeder or so. Just something to think about...not a "breeding set up" although a fry or 2 might survive if you're lucky.
Bottom line get what you like!
I've raised many GBR's and the one disadvantage of these is they prefer very warm water, like 82 degrees or more, at least if you want to breed them.
This can be probematic with the other fish in the long term so you will need to think about what tankmates they will have.
This can be probematic with the other fish in the long term so you will need to think about what tankmates they will have.
No those tanks lost are old. Been 4 years since I had my tank up and running again. I gain have changed my mind again on what I want to get. It follows like this and it is finalI hope the 55g stock in your signature is not the community to which you want to add dwarf cichlids
I see you had rams before, how did you like them? Did they breed & live 5+ years for you? Rams tend to be a bit overbred & a little more delicate than my experience with cacs. But they sure are pretty!
Might be time for a change, try something new. I like the apisto's very different male & female appearance but not the old male "hump head" look after a few years. Mine were locally bred & I think that helped with their "sturdiness". The cac males also grew bigger than males rams...or maybe my rams didn't live long enough. I was a much better fish keeper with different water for the apistos, better for both I'm betting.
Are you pretty good about weekly water changes? Water quality, good stock & good foods in that order are important. I'd quarantine them for 4 weeks if possible.
& just to be evil, lol...a 55g is big enough to have a pair of each depending on what else you have with them & décor/tank layout. Each pair will need half the bottom of the tank without more than a bottom feeder or so. Just something to think about...not a "breeding set up" although a fry or 2 might survive if you're lucky.
Bottom line get what you like!
2 angels
2 Bolivian rams (I wanted the easier of the rams to start off with)
10 harlequin rasbora
8 false Julii corys
Maybe later on down the road I will go with a pie of apistos
Thanks for all the advice
I've kept Bolivians along with Harlequins. They seemed more gregarious than GBRs and did fine in high 70's tropical temperatures. I notice it's hard to find these fish these days.