Alternative...

[Tropical_Decade]

I havent got the YoYo Loach Yet,

So the stock list so far is - 2 x Apistogramma Agassizi (1 male, 1 female)
- 8 x Odessa Barbs

Would 4 x YoYo Loach and 1 x BN Pleco be a good addition to this?

Or can you suggest a better choice of tank mates?

Cheers

Gaz

 

[Bebobb]

Im not into apistos, so cant advise on what type, but generally speaking they are much hardier than rams, particularly GBR, who are very sensitive to water quality, hardness, ph etc, many people have problems keeping GBR's past 6 months.

OVer 6 months? It seems if they were kept in the wrong water conditions they don't like, they wouldn't last a week. That is just what I seem to understand.

 

[tenohfive]

The trick to keeping GBR's is good water quality. I personally found a 30% water change every 3 or 4 days kept them happy, less than that and they became stressed out. When I knocked it down to 40% weekly they were still colourful, but there was some noticeable squabbling (my pair were unfortunately both males - when water was perfect there were no issues. When they were bickering I knew a water change was due.)

Rams can be kept in high pH - mine was 8 - 8.2 - but only if you keep the water quality up.

I echo others comments, only stocking would be a trio of apistos (either agassizi or cacatuoides imo, or one of the colour morphs of them), GBR's, Bolivian Rams (less fussy but less colourful than GBR's), or a keyhole. Any of them will hold their own against the other occupants.

If it were me, I'd go for a cacatuoides trio. I'd stick to a trio as the females should get a bit of a break then, rather than being harrassed by the male.

 

[Tropical_Decade]

Ive emptied my tank of stock today, ready to start a fresh stocking.

My brother has just set his community tank up so ive let him have the odessas, and i took the pleco and shark to my LFS.

I had a look round, and they had got Apistogramma Cacatuoide, they were stunning fish, I also saw there Aequidens Cerviceps (Flag Cichlids) Which were real nice.

Ive also seen an alternative to the barbs, a little more peaceful too, Red Serpae Tetra and Penguin Tetra, Just struggling to get hold of YoYo Loach.

So i THINK the final stock list will be...

1 x BN Pleco
4 x YoYo Loach
4 x Red Serpae Tetra
4 x Penguin Tetra
3 x Apistogramma Cacatuide (1 male, 2 female) OR a Single Keyhole OR a Single Flag Cichlid

My main worry is conflict with the cichlids and the YoYo Loaches,

Let me know what you think

Thanks

Gaz

 

[minxfishy]

I would drop the serpae's, very nippy tetras, then make the penguins up to 6, the apistos will be fine with the loaches.

Betta boy, yes 6 months, some people even with pristine water conditions, seem to have trouble keeping them alive much longer than that, whether it be because they came from bad stock, were hormone injected specimens or some other problem.

 

[Tropical_Decade]

Okay cheers, i wasnt aware that serpae were nippy.

Can Apisto's be kept on there own? And cichlids in general for that matter? Or do they prefer to be in pairs or trios?

Thanks

Gaz

 

[minxfishy]

You could keep one singularly with no problems, but its always nice to watch their 'natural' behaviour with their own kind.

 

[Tropical_Decade]

Thanks, i appreciate your replies.

I would like a trio but dont want to be pushing my stocking limits. And i dont want a pair as i had a keyhole pair and the male harrassed the female to death, before dying of stress himslef, which wasnt very nice to see.

I will have a think and probably purchase the BN Pleco, Tetras and YoYo Loach next week.

Then have a think about the cichlids, The Apistogramma Cacatuoide Males are beautys arent they!