Apisto Question - Advice Please

[Mamba]

I've never kept any Cichlids before but happened across a post and would like to keep some.

I haven't got a full tropical set up but would like to keep them, if possible with Praecox Rainbow, Penguin Tetra, Dalmatian Mollie, an Albino Rainbow Shark and a Jaguar Catfish and possibly an L15 Candy Striped Pleco (when I can get hold of one).

Are these fish suitable tank mates for Borelli and Cacatuoides, Agassizi and possibly Norberti?

Can I mix these types of Apisto's or is there definite no no's in mixing certain types of Apisto's.

All advice very gratefully received!

 

[Electric Warrior]

I've never kept any Cichlids before but happened across a post and would like to keep some.

I haven't got a full tropical set up but would like to keep them, if possible with Praecox Rainbow, Penguin Tetra, Dalmatian Mollie, an Albino Rainbow Shark and a Jaguar Catfish and possibly an L15 Candy Striped Pleco (when I can get hold of one).

Are these fish suitable tank mates for Borelli and Cacatuoides, Agassizi and possibly Norberti?

Can I mix these types of Apisto's or is there definite no no's in mixing certain types of Apisto's.

All advice very gratefully received!

Firstly, what are the size/dimensions of the tank?

 

[Mamba]

At the moment the Jaguar Catfish and Dalmatian Mollie are little and in my quarantine tank. The others are in a 160 litre 3ft tank. I would be looking at the possibility of setting up a nice, planted tropical tank based on a clearseal 48"x12"x18" Tank.

It's more compatibility i'm looking for guidance on in particular. If some of the fish aren't suitable I have other tanks they could be rehoused.

 

[Electric Warrior]

At the moment the Jaguar Catfish and Dalmatian Mollie are little and in my quarantine tank. The others are in a 160 litre 3ft tank. I would be looking at the possibility of setting up a nice, planted tropical tank based on a clearseal 48"x12"x18" Tank.

It's more compatibility i'm looking for guidance on in particular. If some of the fish aren't suitable I have other tanks they could be rehoused.

I have a 200L tank, which is over 3ft long, and my trio of apistos cac's pretty much dominate the whole bottom/mid layers of the tank, especially when spawning, which has been about every two weeks recently-I just now saw tiny fry inside the clay flower pot with the mother, about 13 days after the last batch. I have them, along with a shoal of cardinal tetras, a bristlenose, and a group of juvi angels that I am raising. The females, which are very small, fear nothing when guarding fry and will go after even the much larger angelfish and plecs when they get anywhere near them during this time, just something to keep in mind. They go for my cardinals as well, but they are fast and can pretty much hold their own, even though they are a little dim, and will go right back into their territory; never kept penguins though. I would probably forget about the ARS to be honest. One of those with cichlids in that size tank is just asking for trouble I think. You will most likely have deaths. The only thing I see with the molly is that they do prefer a bit of a more neutral/alkaline ph than the other fish you have mentioned. I think that there are people that have mixed apistos and have been fine, but I think I would only attempt that in a much bigger tank, and even then, you would really want to be thinking about breaking up the line of sight around the bottom so that they cant see much of each other. I would go with keeping a pair or trio of the same in a 48" really. In general, I think that you don't really want to mix apistos, unless you have a very big tank. I have only kept cac's so far, so maybe someone with more experience will offer you some advice.

 

[Electric Warrior]

At the moment the Jaguar Catfish and Dalmatian Mollie are little and in my quarantine tank. The others are in a 160 litre 3ft tank. I would be looking at the possibility of setting up a nice, planted tropical tank based on a clearseal 48"x12"x18" Tank.

It's more compatibility i'm looking for guidance on in particular. If some of the fish aren't suitable I have other tanks they could be rehoused.

I have a 200L tank, which is over 3ft long, and my trio of apistos cac's pretty much dominate the whole bottom/mid layers on the left side of the tank, especially when spawning, which has been about every two weeks recently-I just now saw tiny fry inside the clay flower pot with the mother, about 13 days after the last batch. I have them, along with a shoal of cardinal tetras, a bristlenose, and a group of juvi angels that I am raising. The females, which are very small, fear nothing when guarding fry and will go after even the much larger angelfish and plecs when they get anywhere near them during this time, just something to keep in mind. They go for my cardinals as well, but they are fast and can pretty much hold their own, even though they are a little dim, and will go right back into their territory; never kept penguins though. I would probably forget about the ARS to be honest. One of those with cichlids in that size tank is just asking for trouble I think. You will most likely have deaths. The only thing I see with the molly is that they do prefer a bit of a more neutral/alkaline ph than the other fish you have mentioned. I think that there are people that have mixed apistos and have been fine, but I think I would only attempt that in a much bigger tank, and even then, you would really want to be thinking about breaking up the line of sight around the bottom so that they cant see much of each other. I would go with keeping a pair or trio of the same in a 48" really. In general, I think that you don't really want to mix apistos, unless you have a very big tank. I have only kept cac's so far, so maybe someone with more experience will offer you some advice.

 

[Mamba]

Fair enough, so, air to the side of caution and be clever with the layout to break up line of sight too.

Mixing those fish doesn't sound to be right, i'll have to rethink my tanks set up again. I had hoped to put some in with my Jaguar Catfish as it's a slow grower and, like some of the wild caught Apisto's they need a numerically lower ph. Will have to think again about this.

 

[Electric Warrior]

I mean, I am not saying that mixing a few apsitos in that size of tank would not work, I just don't think it would be the wisest thing to attempt in a 160L. As I am typing this, I am witnessing my dominant apisto cac pair literally terrorise everything on the bottom and mid levels of my 200L, as it looks like they are going to start spawning, again... And they are supposed to be some of the more docile of the dwarves, but with all cichlids, there is nothing docile about them when they are breeding.

 

[Mamba]

That's what worries me. Knowing my luck i'd pick the most psychotic one and it'll tear the hell out of my Jaguar Catfish. That's normally how my luck works. I'm not scrapping the idea of Apisto's, will just have to wait a bit, that's all to set up and entirely new tank.

Cheers for the advice, it is appreciated.

 

[balajake]

My apistogramma Agassizi are in with little harlequin Rasboras and albino cories. They have bred in the tank and successfully raised fry without any of the other fish being harmed. What you need is plenty of wood and slate and fake plants to make hidy holes and places to spawn. Have a little faith