Apistogramma cacatuoides

[Hookedonaquatics]

just got my first pair! can anybody tell me about these guys?
I researched them obviously but I like to know of
other peoples experiences.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Hookedonaquatic,

What would you like to know?

Feeding: I feed mine twice a day; flake in the AM and frozen bloodworms at night

Temp: About 77 degrees

PH: 6.6

dKH: 2-4

dGH: 5-7

Planted tank with lots of cover; caves and driftwood for spawning; good filtration; 33% H2O changes weekly

10 gallon breeding tank

Young breeding pair A. cacatuoides Triple Red

Fry from spawn; actually juvies at this point

 

[Hookedonaquatics]

Your pair look amazing ! Thanks for the advice these guys are beautiful !
Will these guys be ok with other fish?

 

[Anonymous]

just got my first pair! can anybody tell me about these guys?
I researched them obviously but I like to know of
other peoples experiences.

What type did you pick up?

 

[bassetman]

They look great.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Your pair look amazing ! Thanks for the advice these guys are beautiful !
Will these guys be ok with other fish?

Hi Hookedonaquatics,

Unless they are breeding I find Apistos to be peaceful. I keep several pairs of Apistogramma baenschi in a 30 gallon with Cardinal Tetras, Rasboras, and Corydoras.

 

[Anonymous]

Your pair look amazing ! Thanks for the advice these guys are beautiful !
Will these guys be ok with other fish?

Hi Hookedonaquatics,

Unless they are breeding I find Apistos to be peaceful. I keep several pairs of Apistogramma baenschi in a 30 gallon with Cardinal Tetras, Rasboras, and Corydoras.

Geez Roy, what a gorgeous tank. Im making plans to plant a 10gallon long tank and absolutely love this picture. May I ask what type and where you found the substraight you used. I like this dark gray yet natural look. Definitely going to pick up some trident fern too.


@Hookedonaquatics, I too have many species together with Apistogramma. In a 140 gallon planted tank I have 5 males, 1 pair of mouth brooder apistos a pair of C. Regani irindae, school of corys, angel fish, and a partrige in a pear tree They all get along well. There is a dominate large male but they all thrive just fine.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Chad,

Thank you! Although the picture is about 2 years old it is one of my favorites; it is a tank that I had done for the GSAS Home Show. The substrate is montmorillonite clay and it's about 4 years old. The brand was Soilmaster Select Charcoal which unfortunately has been discontinued. If you are looking for a similar clay product check out aquariumplants.com Aquadurt in the Black Diamond color http://www.aquariumplants.com/Freshwater_Aquarium_Plant_Substrate_p/ss.htm. If you would like a more inert substrate the Black Diamond 20/40 black blasting grit sold in our LFS will also give you a nice black substrate.

The plants are mostly Microsorum/java ferns ('Trident' and 'Windelov') along with a few stem plants.....it was a very low maintenance set-up.

 

[Anonymous]

Awesome Roy! Thanks again

 

[Hookedonaquatics]

Wow you guys are awesome beautiful fish and setups ! I'm starting to get into ciclids and want more and more . Im starting my first 55 gallon witch is big for me I have a few nano tanks that I aquascape and keep killi fish. I believe I have
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids - Apistogramma cacatuoides double red? Sorry I'm new to the ciclids .

 

[Anonymous]

Wow you guys are awesome beautiful fish and setups ! I'm starting to get into ciclids and want more and more . Im starting my first 55 gallon witch is big for me I have a few nano tanks that I aquascape and keep killi fish. I believe I have
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids - Apistogramma cacatuoides double red? Sorry I'm new to the ciclids .

This is neat. I myself am doing the opposite. I started with LARGER (100+ gallons) tanks and currently setting up smaller "nano" tanks I too have a double red. Very nice looking fish.

 

[Hookedonaquatics]

this hobby is addicting.
I been going to fish stores trying to find
big anubius plants and other big low to medium light plants but im having
no luck. any ideas where I can get some?

 

[Lamental Jester]

Cory has some triple reds at his store. Beautiful! I think I found the inhabitants for my next setup

 

[Hookedonaquatics]

awesome I need to check out his store.
also can I put more than 1 pair of these dwarf ciclids in my tank?

 

[Anonymous]

awesome I need to check out his store.
also can I put more than 1 pair of these dwarf ciclids in my tank?

Cory has more than a couple species of Apistogramma. Last time I was there (Saturday) there was triple red, a beautiful orange flash, and an odd strain which was pretty impressive. I believe he also had apistogramma nijsseni. There are littlerally 100's of strains. A lot of times it may difficult to find females. There are 2 reasons that i know of for this. 1 females look way different and possibly dont sell well. 2, to keep common hobbists from breeding uncommon apistos.

If I was you I would definally check out aquarium coop. This store seems to be picky about stock and concentrates on strong breeding and strains, and healthy fish! There is a stain of A. cacatuoides Orange flash that are absoluley amazing! No females though, I think its one of those deals where the breeder dont want others to breed them! The orange is that outstanding!!! My orange flash looks good but compared to aquarium co-op's orange flash mine looks dull : |

 

[Anonymous]

awesome I need to check out his store.
also can I put more than 1 pair of these dwarf ciclids in my tank?

You can have more than 1 pair as long as the tank is big enough and they are of the same species. You can do whatever you wish but we as hobbists try to keep the strains pure and Apistogramma can cross breed. So if you end up with a bunch of mutts they will be hard to get rid of...

 

[Hookedonaquatics]

when you say cross breed you mean with other?

 

[Anonymous]

when you say cross breed you mean with other?

Different species of apistos are known to interbreed with each other and make mutty offspring, mudding up the colors.

We-must-keep-the-bloodlines-pure

 

[CrazedAce]

:iagree:
I keep pundamilia nyererei and have noticed they look similar to many of the apisto species. The males may look a little different, but the females are almost identical.

 

[Anonymous]

While I NORMALLY agree that you shouldn't interbreed... That's not how genetics work, Chad.
Double red, Triple Red, and Orange Flash, are all cacatuoides. IE, a pair of one kind WILL throw babies of others.

Also, there's a theory, that in the wild Kingfishers scoop up apistos to feed their babies, and consequently, travel up to 20 miles. Apistos are smart enough to play dead, and kingfisher young will throw back dead fish. And these fish really don't care WHERE they're dropped. As long as the find another fish to mate with.
The only "purity" to them is that you believe they started out as a pure strain, or want to keep what you have "pure".
Ever seen a shop with a lone "Unknown" Apisto they got from their shipper? This is why.