Looking to get Apistos

What kind should I get? I've been leaning towards either longfin german blue rams, or cacatuoides "Super Red". I will be putting them in a 30gal. How many is too many? What's a good size for a breeding colony? Ratio of males and females? Where can I get these fish without paying ridiculous prices?

Rams. German Blue for sure. 2 females/1 male

Do u want Rams or Apistogrammas or looking for both species? Both are a fabulous species to house. Most prices I've seen seem to be a general standard for Apistogramma depending on species. Anywhere from $8-$20 a piece or $15-$40 a pair, again depending on species. I havent paid any less, unless it was some special my LFS was having. In a 30 gallon I would look for and choose a pair of APISTOGRAMMA then perhaps a small schooling fish with a couple of caves, real plants, perhaps a few ottocinculus. Maybe even a couple Kuhlii loaches for bottom feeders (I haven't researched the loaches to see if they eat fish eggs )

You could also have the same set up for a pair of RAM cichlids.

2 weeks ago I would have voted for the cacatuoides. But since then I've picked up a few Rams and have enjoyed both. But Apisto's are sill my fav

Only a pair in a 30gal? Not more than two? Bristlenose plecos won't work as bottom feeders? The tank currently has about six common juvenile bristlenose plecos and 8 metriaclima aurora juveniles that I am unimpressed with and am probably going to sell/trade. The tank has a bunch of anacharis that is multiplying fast, and a bunch of clay pots covering the bottom. I used to have 20 other cichlid fry in there as well with no aggression so I know its full of lovely caves.

And once I get rid of the aurora cichlids I'll probably start adding my overstock of RCS to the tank in hopes of establishing a colony in there before getting more fish.

I thought Bristlenosed Plecos ate fish eggs? I am sure you could squeeze a couple pair in your tank. From what I've experienced though Apistogramma are a little territorial. Every female you put in your tank will want a space. Every male that pairs with them may want to defend. I have 3-4 male Apistos & 3 Bolivian Rams one tank. Each with a different personality. When it comes to dinner time all bickering is put aside. But once feeding is over they all scat to their territories. The tank I am referring to is 140 gallons & I believe a "colony" is possible. It very well maybe possible to create a "colony" in a 30 gallon, and perhaps someone else may chime in with another experience but in my experience I've never housed more than 1 pair in a 30 gallon tank with the goal of breeding & successfully keeping fry.

They probably do eat eggs, but if I were to get a mated pair in the tank, the male would be busy with his own thing and I would just have to worry about the female. I want a LOT of cover in this tank, and will probably only keep a single flat piece of granite in the tank for the apistos to spawn on.

So a bunch of cover, a RCS colony BEFORE I put fish in, a pair of bristlenose, a pair of apistos, and the rest of the space to be filled with a top/middle schooling fish, probably zebra danios. Now I just need to know where to get them. And honestly, I could go for either species, so long as the GBR are longfin.

While the cacatuoides and ap. baenchi were easy to breed for me, I gave up on the rams after awhile. The downside of raising apistos is the need to hatch BBS for the tiny fry since they won't eat dry food.

I forgot to say that the cacatuoides and the rams have good demand.

I'm not worried about feeding the fry, I have my own mix of dry foods that I occasionally feed, but the fry I deem important are relocated to my pleco/rcs 10gal breeder tank that is full of infusoria and other foods that they will eat.

But alas, I may not even be getting any dwarf cichlids. I may just keep the 30gal as a grow out tank for Africans and plecos.

baenschi get my vote

Hey Guys,

First post here on the forum..

Where locally can I find a good selection of Apistos??

I Have a pair of GBR now and love them but would like to add a pair of Apistos.

This should work in a 46g Planted Bowfront correct?

Thanks,

i wouldnt reccomend mixing another group of substrate spawners in slater. in my experience they tend to fight too much to breed or live peacefully. perhaps a larger slate type spawning cichlid. angels, festivums, something in that neighborhood.

I think the fighting depends a lot on how the tank is setup. Lots of plants / line of sight blocks help.

As for selection I've got these at the store:
Trifasciata
Nijisseni
Coming in Thursday:
Cacatuoides Super reds
Orange Flash
Agassizi Double Reds

CSlater21 wrote:Hey Guys,

First post here on the forum..

Where locally can I find a good selection of Apistos??

I Have a pair of GBR now and love them but would like to add a pair of Apistos.

This should work in a 46g Planted Bowfront correct?

Thanks,

  - Hi CSlater21, welcome to the forum. Have you posted any pictures of your planted tank? 


You don't have your location on your profile. What   is  local  to  you? I usually can find good selections at Aquarium CoOp in Edmonds, Denny's Pet World in Kirkland, The Fish Store in Seattle, A Place for Pets in Burien, Bridges in Snohomish, Jones and Co in Marysville! there is also a couple places further up North in Clark Wa and Mount Vernon area. I would defiantly call to see what they have available. 

Aquarium Co-Op wrote:I think the fighting depends a lot on how the tank is setup. Lots of plants / line of sight blocks help.

As for selection I've got these at the store:
Trifasciata
Nijisseni
Coming in Thursday:
Cacatuoides Super reds
Orange Flash
Agassizi Double Reds

  - I just picked up a beautiful male Nijisseni from here, B E A utiful fish. 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

All 3 that cory has listed coming in thursday were on my top list as common apistos that I wanted. Wish I had the room! I can't part with my current fish though. So I will have to wait. Good luck!

My choices for Apisto.

- Borelli
- macmasteri
- macmasteri "gold"
- agassizii "fire red"

WhosUrDadi wrote:My choices for Apisto.

- macmasteri
- macmasteri "gold"

  - Do you know where to get these 2 ?!?!

Guys thanks for the warm welcome and replies.

Great start here at the Fishbox.

I will get some pics of the tank up later. Currently there is still quite a bit of open site from side to side. Knowing that, the Apistos and the Rams are not gonna get along to well huh..

What about putting in a couple Electric Blue Rams to accompany the GBR's?

Thanks again!!

CSlater21 wrote:Guys thanks for the warm welcome and replies.

Great start here at the Fishbox.

I will get some pics of the tank up later. Currently there is still quite a bit of open site from side to side. Knowing that, the Apistos and the Rams are not gonna get along to well huh..

What about putting in a couple Electric Blue Rams to accompany the GBR's?

Thanks again!!

I have Apistogramma and rams together . They do fine keeping to themselves. But if you wish to breed best to do so in a species tank, or something larger if ypu wan tto house together.

fishNAbowl wrote:

CSlater21 wrote:Guys thanks for the warm welcome and replies.

Great start here at the Fishbox.

I will get some pics of the tank up later. Currently there is still quite a bit of open site from side to side. Knowing that, the Apistos and the Rams are not gonna get along to well huh..

What about putting in a couple Electric Blue Rams to accompany the GBR's?

Thanks again!!

I have Apistogramma and rams together . They do fine keeping to themselves. But if you wish to breed best to do so in a species tank, or something larger if ypu wan tto house together.

Perfect that is what I wanted to here!! I don't really care or need them to breed. At least not yet..  

Sure! Just like Cory was saying, have a bunch of stuff in your tank. Woods, rocks, plants. These things help regulate cichlid aggression. Dither such as a school of tetra, and or a school of Corydalis also help.

fishNAbowl wrote:

WhosUrDadi wrote:My choices for Apisto.

- macmasteri
- macmasteri "gold"

  - Do you know where to get these 2 ?!?!

did you asked Cory if he can get it?
you might want ot try to ask Jed also. i for got his Forum name tho.. =(
I have his contact number. if you want i can PM it to you

I haven't asked Cory, just seen you list them, I haven't actually been searching , but have been keeping an eye open for them. I think Jed's screen name is Jubs.

fishNAbowl wrote:I haven't asked Cory, just seen you list them, I haven't actually been searching ,  but have been keeping an eye open for them. I think Jed's screen name is Jubs.

I see.

yah those Apistos that I listed are my options when I set up my first planted tank... =)

Here is a video I shot today with bad lighting real quick.

The Orange flash at Aquarium CoOp are amazing. I've never seen these so bright.

I wish I had the water for these guys...those orange are stunning!

Oh man those orange flash are absolutely amazing. Would love to get that for my restaurant community tank. How much are they going for Cory?

$14.49 and sold out this weekend already.

Damn that sucks. Lol will you be getting more in anytime soon?

Hey Guys,

So unfortunatley I had to give the rams away. While I really liked them, they were bullying the other fish in the tank pretty bad.. They were certainly an aggressive pair. They would even nip at me when I would clean the tank..

I am hoping I would have better luck with some Apisto's.

Thoughts?

I've been waiting to buy more Orange Flash myself, but haven't seen any at the store for a while.