Apistogramma Cacatuoides

[BettaBoyBilly]

Hey guys! I’m thinking about getting a 15-20 gallon tank to house a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides and i would like yo breed them, because i know after a few attempts the parents will actually raise the young. I’m not really trying to make a crazy profit so i don’t feel the need to separate the fry and go through all those steps... i wanna make it as natural as possible and if i get some decent ‘grammas out of it i’ll sell them to a LFS.
What i’m asking is if anyone has had luck breeding in the past while leaving both parent fish in the tank? Also and tips/tricks as to how to keep them living as long as possible will help, it would be my first time taking care of these fish

 

[HoldenOn]

Hey guys! I’m thinking about getting a 15-20 gallon tank to house a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides and i would like yo breed them, because i know after a few attempts the parents will actually raise the young. I’m not really trying to make a crazy profit so i don’t feel the need to separate the fry and go through all those steps... i wanna make it as natural as possible and if i get some decent ‘grammas out of it i’ll sell them to a LFS.
What i’m asking is if anyone has had luck breeding in the past while leaving both parent fish in the tank? Also and tips/tricks as to how to keep them living as long as possible will help, it would be my first time taking care of these fish

If it's anything like krib breeding, just make sure they find a spot and let them go at it. Kribs take care of the young, and don't beat each other up when breeding. Not sure about apistos sorry.

 

[BettaBoyBilly]

If it's anything like krib breeding, just make sure they find a spot and let them go at it. Kribs take care of the young, and don't beat each other up when breeding. Not sure about apistos sorry.

In the slight research i’ve done through youtube they can be good parents but will often eat the fry the first time around or 2.

 

[HoldenOn]

In the slight research i’ve done through youtube they can be good parents but will often eat the fry the first time around or 2.

Yea same with kribs, they just have to get the hang of it. It's better to let them do it the first time so that they don't get stressed out right after mating from the move(imo). Feeding them high protein meals like bloodworms will help cull the habit.

 

[BettaBoyBilly]

Yea same with kribs, they just have to get the hang of it. It's better to let them do it the first time so that they don't get stressed out right after mating from the move(imo). Feeding them high protein meals like bloodworms will help cull the habit.

Yup i’ve heard that too. I already have brine shrimps eggs and frozen bloodworms on deck

 

[HoldenOn]

Yup i’ve heard that too. I already have brine shrimps eggs and frozen bloodworms on deck

Good luck! Dwarf cichlids are the best!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Good luck! Dwarf cichlids are the best!

*sad peppered cory noises*

 

[HoldenOn]

*sad peppered cory noises*
View attachment 118462

One of mine just stopped rooting through the sand 5 minutes after being fed and looked at me accusingly.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

One of mine just stopped rooting through the sand 5 minutes after being fed and looked at me accusingly.

Wise fish. They know what you said!! You monster.

 

[Wills]

Yep you can leave them in the tank - make sure you get the biggest foot print you can. They are hareem breeders so if you can get a long tank you might be able to do a trio with 1 male 2 females.

What is your water like? They are a soft water fish so it would be beneficial to match this.

Wills

 

[Colin_T]

Don't do a trio, just have a single pr (1 male & 1 female).
The parents look after the young and when the adults breed again, you remove the babies to a bigger tank to grow them up.

 

[Wills]

But they are not a pairing fish, a male can be too much for a single female, where as with two females the attention is spread out.

 

[Essjay]

I think a 15 to 20 gallon tank might be too small for a trio though. Not enough room for 2 female territories.

 

[Metalhead88]

Unlike many other cichlids, Apistogramma Cocatuoides live in harams in the wild. The male will fertilize multiple different females eggs at the same time, and the females will care for the young, even the other females fry. They will even steal from other females in order to have the biggest group and care for them as their own. This has even been observed in the home aquarium as well.

With all that being said, you can certainly keep a pair and many people have luck with only a pair. My pair has laid eggs about 10 times that I'm aware of and they haven't hatched. Eggs are either eaten, or do not hatch after being fertilized and moved.

 

[itiwhetu]

I would only put a pair in a tank, this is not the wild. No other fish, if you want to raise the young with the parents it is important that there are no distractions, this goes with all cichlids. Make sure that the tank is well planted and in a quite corner of the house.