I have a pair in a twenty long
My dosigera were never shy, and my current araguaiae have some of the best personalities I've seen on dwarves.
Suggestions for an uncommon SA dwarf cichlid
- Thread starter Mythic Figment
- Start date
I have a pair in a twenty long
My dosigera were never shy, and my current araguaiae have some of the best personalities I've seen on dwarves.
I've kept cryptoheros cutteri and they can be quite aggressive. My male killed his female after numerous spawns. It wasn't pretty. I don't think they would be good for what you have in mind. What about a less common apisto?
I have a pair of hrps that spawn on a regular basis. The chance of the male or female killing their mate is high if kept by themselves. My pair is in a community tank with a lot of dithers. I think dithers help a lot specially in making the bond stronger for any pair of fish you keep.
My laetacara is never shy and he is wild caught. Maybe because he's in a community tank.
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Any cichlid pair could turn on each other. Both of my wild-caught Laetacara dorsigera pairs turned on each other in 20 gallon breeding tanks and the males butchered the females. That was the end of my F1 dorsigera spawns. I've actually found it a lot easier (and there have been a lot less casualties) to just spawn them in the community tanks and siphon out the fry.
I've had several groups of wild-caught dorsigera and I've never found them to be shy. Again, like keyholes, it depends on the tank size, the tankmates, etc.
I've had several groups of wild-caught dorsigera and I've never found them to be shy. Again, like keyholes, it depends on the tank size, the tankmates, etc.
Keyholes were way more shy than any of the three Laetacara I've kept, even when the only cichlids in a tank and lots of dithers.
I have looked into apistos locally and they haven't really sparked my interest. And the local prices seem to be hit or miss. They are either common and cheap or rare and expensive. Haven't found anything that makes me smile, but also makes my wallet happy too. LOL
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I started my keyholes out with some German blue rams that were 3 times their size and they were out all the time in their 55. I added both my super red severum to the 55 when they were each about 2.5-3" and the keyholes were 1.5" each. No change and the keyholes kept staying out. Then I got my 125 and moved the rams and sevs there. Keyholes had the tank to themselves with the exception of the 20+ neons they have for dithers. Suddenly they were hiding all the time. I increased plant cover, added a few rams back, and even moved the tank to a slightly darker area all over the course of 3-4 weeks. They stayed in hiding and whenever I come over, they jet behind the driftwood or plants and I never see them. They have been in their 55 in the new spot for over 6 weeks and no change in the constant hiding. They won't even eat if I drop food in until I am almost out of sight of the tank.
Now I plan on breeding my red head geos, but I have read they need a tank to themselves to spawn successfully because of their holding behavior. If they are in a community tank, they will often swallow their fry because they see the other fish as threats. What are the chances a pair will go crazy and try to kill each other? Is it common at all?
What kind of community tanks do you have where the siphon method has worked? I am very intrigued by this method. And by "community", do you mean with other cichlids, with dithers, and/or with bottom dwellers (I would only be interested in cories)?
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I agree with Ryan that any central American pair can turn on eachother in too small of a tank. I've kept lots of cryptoheros species, and have lost my share of females to aggression. Dividers will work, but aren't the best looking thing in a display tank. I've recently been experimenting with keeping a group in a 55, specifically with cryptoheros coatepeque, an uncommon type from the convict complex. The group is 2 males and 4 females, with a few other cichlids to draw the attention of pairs when they breed. I've had this set up for close to a year and have not yet lost a fish to aggression. Each male has his territory on opposite sides of the tank and they each breed regularly. I have to siphon out fry if I want any to survive, but so far it is working well.
In a 20, I would always have a divider handy. HRP's are a good choice, as they are some of the least aggressive cryptoheros I have kept. If you are looking for something really out of the ordinary, you could try your hand with ivanocara. Your initial outlay for the fish will be pricey, but you wouldn't have any issue moving out fry at a good price.
In a 20, I would always have a divider handy. HRP's are a good choice, as they are some of the least aggressive cryptoheros I have kept. If you are looking for something really out of the ordinary, you could try your hand with ivanocara. Your initial outlay for the fish will be pricey, but you wouldn't have any issue moving out fry at a good price.
I like the idea of the nannacara. Might be a little smaller than what I was expecting (read females only get to 1.5" max which seems super small).
I just don't really like apistos. The cockatoo ones are nice and I would consider those if they weren't $50+ each.
Kribs were something I have consider. I really like their coloring, but they are almost as common as rams are. These are high in the list for a fall back cichlid along with Bolivian rams.
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