Apistogramma querry....

[abhishek]

Dear friends,I have got a spare 3 footer (50 gal) tank which I am thinking of stocking with either Apistogramma Trifasciata or cacatoides or borelli.But have got a have questions....

1.How many do I kep?I plan on having 1 male and 3 females.Is it ok or can I increase the number of apistos and go with 2 males.

2.What should the water ph as whatever we get here are all tank bred.Here the normal ph is 7.2 to 7.5 ...Is it ok?

3.I plan not to have any plants in the tank.Sand substrate with driftwoods.But is blackwater necessary for them to thrive and breed.And does it cause trouble if I DONOT have plants.

4.What about the water hradness?Here the water is a little bit hard.

I look forward for some helpful replies.

 

[abarilot]

Unless they are wild caught you shouldn't have any issues with them

1. I'd keep two pairs of apistos. Just make sure there are plenty of hiding spots for both pairs.
2. the pH is fine. I currently have a pair of borellii in a 20g with a pH of 8
3. I'd put plants in the tank but they are not necesary, neither is black water.
4. just keep the pH and hardness they same as they are kept now.

Good Luck!

 

[Rockbass6]

Apisto borelli like lower temperatures low to mid 70's. They like plants and shade. I have a big anubias brateri plant and they like it a lot and anubias is a hard plant to kill. Cacatoides like the higher 70's. Water pH should be lower though, the guy I got my borelli off of had them breeding in a pretty acidic pH. I don't know the details of it though, but it is easier to breed them more readily in more acidic conditons I've heard.
I keep both species at 78 in the same tank they are doing well so far.
I personally like the double red apisto cacatoides they are pretty sweet.