Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => New World => Topic started by: atmagoulick on July 13, 2013, 09:54:34 PM

Title: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on July 13, 2013, 09:54:34 PM
Hi is anyone breeding Apistogramma cacatuoides?  I'd  like to try them next.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on July 13, 2013, 10:19:45 PM
Allen Park Critter Shop had a bunch last I checked...not sure on quality.   Maybe 1-1.5". 

I was talking with another guy a while back who had some...will see if I can dig up his name.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on July 14, 2013, 08:28:52 AM
Thanks for the reply.  It'd be nice if you found him.  I'd like to try them in a small planted tank and see if any magic happens.  It'll be ready on Sunday.  Have you tried any little guys?
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on July 14, 2013, 08:54:44 AM
I tried apisto iniridae and agassizi.

Agassizi ate their eggs 3x in a semi planted 20 gallon so I swapped them for something else as I didn't want to hassle with hatching eggs and raising fry separately.

Iniridae killed each other off and I have just one left.

A proven pair may do better both with raising eggs and aggression but I'd probably try a 20 long or 30 long as my male was getting nipped up in a 2' tank.  Ideally a sponge filter and softer water would help.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on July 14, 2013, 04:17:30 PM
Sounds like you have some experience with them.  Critters only has kribs now.  Please keep me posted on Apistogramma.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on July 14, 2013, 05:05:13 PM
Sounds like you have some experience with them.  Critters only has kribs now.  Please keep me posted on Apistogramma.

Only briefly.  Fins is a good (better) source but not cheap.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on July 14, 2013, 07:41:24 PM
Here are the ones I'm lookiing for Apistogramma:

First choice
•   baenschi
•   cacatuoides
•   Eunotus
•   trifasciata
Alternatives
•   arua
•   atahualpa
•   juruensis
•   meinkeni
•   paucisquamis
•   uaupes
•   velifera

Thanks
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 01, 2013, 02:41:16 PM
I found a trio of A. cacatuoides orange flash.  I put them in a planted 10 gallon tank.  The substrate is sand and matches the females color.  I am hoping the females can blend into the sand to avoid excessive abuse from the male.  Here is a picture from last week.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on August 01, 2013, 02:48:17 PM
I found a trio of A. cacatuoides orange flash.  I put them in a planted 10 gallon tank.  The substrate is sand and matches the females color.  I am hoping the females can blend into the sand to avoid excessive abuse from the male.  Here is a picture from last week.

Sounds good, however it's often the other way around where the female(s) beat on the male(s).  You may want to invest in a divider (or if I can figure out how to post the video I made for the MCA DIY meeting) there's a cheap and easy way to make your own.

Or, consider upgrading shortly to a 15 or 20 long.  My pair did OK in a 15 long as far as aggression but the eggs never lasted.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 03, 2013, 06:51:27 PM
I got eggs!!!  The female turned yellow and the male was exhausted.  She laid them on the underside of a Telanthera leaf.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on August 03, 2013, 07:25:47 PM
I got eggs!!!  The female turned yellow and the male was exhausted.  She laid them on the underside of a Telanthera leaf.

Congrats!  Don't get discouraged if they eat the eggs...sometimes it takes them three or four tries.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: LoveTheFishies on August 03, 2013, 08:53:52 PM
I got eggs!!!  The female turned yellow and the male was exhausted.  She laid them on the underside of a Telanthera leaf.

Congrats!  Don't get discouraged if they eat the eggs...sometimes it takes them three or four tries.

Agree with the congrats.  The adults look cool.  I'm not familiar with the south american cichlids, should the parents be taken out of the tank to increase the chance of the fry making it?
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: linuxrulesusa on August 03, 2013, 09:01:06 PM
I got eggs!!!  The female turned yellow and the male was exhausted.  She laid them on the underside of a Telanthera leaf.

Congrats!  Don't get discouraged if they eat the eggs...sometimes it takes them three or four tries.

Agree with the congrats.  The adults look cool.  I'm not familiar with the south american cichlids, should the parents be taken out of the tank to increase the chance of the fry making it?

IIRC either leave the parents in to fan the eggs and pick off the fungused ones (with the risk they eat the first few batches), or else remove the eggs to a tank with vigorous air plus some ratio of methylene blue to prevent fungus.  But then it's all on you.  If you can get the parents to do most of the work you'll find it easier in the long run.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 04, 2013, 09:00:04 AM
I'll leave the eggs alone until after they hatch.  After the hatch, I'll split the fry.  Some will stay with the parents, so the parents can learn about parenthood.   The others will grow in a separate tank.  It is easy to get a species to mate.  It is difficult to get the fry to mature.  It would be nice to master a species.  It takes time and generations of fish.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 08, 2013, 04:37:57 PM
The eggs are missing.  She either ate them or they hatched and are not free swimming yet.  I think they are not free swimming yet, because she stays in the hole she dug.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 08, 2013, 04:41:01 PM
Here is a more recent picture
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 09, 2013, 04:38:06 PM
The fry are free swimming now.  My camera's resolution is not strong enough for a detailed photo.  The fry are so small.  The mother chews food and spits it out through her gills to feed them.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on August 11, 2013, 02:45:29 PM
Proud Mom.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on December 13, 2013, 12:08:47 PM
A word document of my experience with A. cactuoides.  It is a great fish for a "New World" community tank.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: Somethingsfishy on December 14, 2013, 10:10:18 AM
I enjoyed the pictures and reading your write-up!  I have a few types of dwarf cichlids, too, and probably need to take them out of my community tanks, if I want them to breed.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: four_by_ken on December 14, 2013, 10:47:54 AM
Very nice post.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on December 14, 2013, 12:00:11 PM
I enjoyed the pictures and reading your write-up!  I have a few types of dwarf cichlids, too, and probably need to take them out of my community tanks, if I want them to breed.
They might breed in a community tank.  These two did.  I moved them into a 90 gallon and they had a second batch.
Title: Re: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Post by: atmagoulick on December 14, 2013, 12:00:49 PM
Very nice post.
Thanks