Apistogramma cacatuoides

[atmagoulick]

Hi is anyone breeding Apistogramma cacatuoides?  I'd  like to try them next.

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[atmagoulick]

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?

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[atmagoulick]

Sounds like you have some experience with them.  Critters only has kribs now.  Please keep me posted on Apistogramma.

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[atmagoulick]

Here are the ones I'm lookiing for Apistogramma:

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

Thanks

[atmagoulick]

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.

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[atmagoulick]

I got eggs!!!  The female turned yellow and the male was exhausted.  She laid them on the underside of a Telanthera leaf.

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[LoveTheFishies]

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?

[linuxrulesusa]

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.

[atmagoulick]

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.

[atmagoulick]

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.