Apistogramma Agassizii

[Curalingua]

Hi
I posted this originally in Tropical Fish Emergencies, but realised that you guys in this forum may be able to help me.

I have a 60l (15 US Gallons) 2ft length tank and had a pair of Apistogramma Aggassizii and 8 Cardinal Neon Tetra's.

The tank was moved (complete with filter media kept wet in tank water) to mine about 2 months ago but had been set up for over a year. It remained cycled with it's stock intact (it was over stocked). The stock were removed to a bigger tank about 3 weeks ago and replaced with the above stock.

Ammonia and nitrites have always remained at o.
Nitrates around 5-20 (my tap water is 7).
Weekly 10-20% water changes.
pH is between 7.6-7.8.
Med-hard water (although not tested)
temp 78 F

My female aggie died today. She has been unwell for a couple of days not eating and kind of floating at the top of the tank around the filter. No signs of any infection. She was a very bright orangey yellow when I got her and I was told that was her breeding colour. They have both been quite shy but now the male wont come out of the coconut cave not even to feed. I have to drop feed to the edge of the cave and he will pop his head out just enough to reach a bit, but not much.

I did a 50% water change yesterday. Hope that was okay and didnt stress the male out more. He hid in his cave throughout.

What should I do? I have made enquires about females but they are quite hard to get on their own, they are usually sold in pairs and in any case none of my LFS have any in stock. I am also worried in case she had an infection. The Tetra seem fine but the male Aggie is not acting normally (or maybe he is just missing her).

I know the pH is a bit high and they prefer softer water but they were sold as tank bred and used to these conditions. Is the temp a bit high?

Any ideas?
E.g.
Wait for couple of weeks to make sure no infections and male okay?
Daily 10% water changes?
Widen my search and go out and hunt down a new female or 2 (will my tank take 2 females?).

Sorry lots of questions

Thanks for reading and in anticipation of help.

Happy New Year

Fiona

 

[Wills]

Hi there it sounds like you are doing all the right things. The main question I think to ask is, were they a breeding pair? If so (or even if not a pair) the male could have literally pestered her to death. It has happened to me a few times over the years and it was only when a member on here made me realize I had always lost females in the pairs and for that reason I'm not going to even try and keep more than one of a cichlid now. Unless I had a fish house or multiple tanks to swap them out when needed etc. The male could be stressed due to the lack of his partner, some fish take little notice others do pine for old tank mates you read tons of unlikely pairings over the net and how fish differ with different individuals etc.

I think your tank could handle a trio of them 1 male 2 female. It could prevent the same happening as he will have 2 ladies to give his attention too

Wills

 

[Curalingua]

Thanks Wills.
It will take me a couple of weeks at least to find 2 females so that will give time to see if he is okay. I did read that they like a harem of females, maybe to give the females a break. I don't think he was bothering her too much (maybe he was when I wasn't looking). He is still sulking today. He looks okay though. But still not eating and wont come out of his cave at all (had to lift it to check he was still alive).

 

[Curalingua]

The male died today.

I really don't know what went wrong for them.

Fiona

 

[Wills]

awww sorry to hear that It could have been the stress that killed them both, but just looking back over your stats the Ph was a little high so it could have been that?

Perhaps when you come to get new feature fish look for something a bit less dependent on Ph like dwarf acaras, or even maybe a slightly larger lone cichlid.

Wills

 

[Goodygumdrops]

Have you checked inside your cave for eggs/fry?

 

[Curalingua]

Have you checked inside your cave for eggs/fry?

Yes I did, only found snails eggs though, but that had crossed my mind.

I love the aggies but think my pH is too high at 7.8-8 for them sio wont be giving them another go

 

[mattbond]

i have borellis and ive heard theyre hardier than most apistos, as are the cockatoos, i know they can be kept in my local tap water which is 7.8 i believe

with borellis you could have a male and 3 females if you provide plenty of caves, cockatoos again 1m,2f

i wouldnt at the moment, because of the snow, but later on you can allways mail order from wildwoods in middlesex, or i might know some places around you that might have them, (im an apisto fan lol)