Apistogramma cacatuoides

[pnyklr3]

I love the look of the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid!! I would like to get 1 male and about 2-3 females. Would I be able to keep them in a 55 gallon community tank? I am aware that they would need a lot of hiding places (caves and such). Also, how tolerant are they? My tap water is alkaline and on the moderate/hard side (about 120-150 ppm). Would they be able to handle these water conidtions, or would I have to look into lowering my pH and hardness?

Boy, my one question turned into 3! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

~Jade

 

[Doggfather]

The water they can live in depends on a number of things -

1: Is the LFS close by? if so they are most likely using the same water
2: Are the fish tank raised? If so, they will be more tolerant of conditions

I doubt it will cuase them too much trouble but a slow acclimitization periods reduces stress. If you do need to soften the water, just add some wood Not only will it soften/acidify the water, but it gives the fish another place to hide

The 55g tank should be fine, depending on tank mate

 

[pnyklr3]

Which list is shorter: who they can live with, or who they can't? I guess a good place to start would be the definate no-no's.

 

[Doggfather]

It would be great to post a list of the fish currently in your tank both lists can strech on

Edit: i looked in your profiles...

55 gallon:
2 male Neon Blue Dwarf Gouramis - Should be fine
3 clown loaches - Bottom dwellers, may cause a spot of trouble
1 ghost catfish - need to be kept in groups of 3 plus, fine with apistos
3 mollies (1 female silver lyretail, 1 female dalmation, 1 male
golddust) - should be fine
2 black skirt tetras (1 male & 1 female) - the larger the group the better, should be fine
1 pleco - depends what type of plec
8 bloodfin tetras - fine
4 black neon tetras - fine, again, the larger the group, the better
3 bala sharks - need at least a 90g tank

Sorry, i'm on my way out, when i get back i'll give a little more detail when i get back

 

[pnyklr3]

The sharks are going to be moved out as soon as I clear out room (and finish gather the $) for a new tank. I should've updated my profile: I've lost a molly after droping fry. I have also lost a ghost catfish, but they seemed to stay away from eachother when they were both in the same tank...almost picking their own territory to guard (although they were never agressive). The plec is a bristlenose (I have just found this out after LOTS of research....my mother likes to buy me fish, and I never know what they are until I look them up; she never remembers).

What kind of trouble would the apistos and loaches have? Remember: I'm a newbie when it comes to cichlids, and all help is needed!!

~Jade

 

[Doggfather]

Apistos tend to hang at the bottom of the aquarium, just as the loaches do. If your female apistos were to lay eggs, the loaches may harrass her (when the males not watching) and possibly eat her eggs/fry.

It's not a defenatee yes/no answer, you'll need to see what works for you. Also be aware of the fact clown loaches get quite big, but fortunantly are slow growers. The bristlenose willl be fine

Ask the lfs about their water, if it's similar to yours buy some, if they're kept in different water try softening it first by adding some bogwood

 

[pnyklr3]

this may sound REALLY dumb, but is an answer to hard water a water softener (i.e. the brine tank that I put solar salt into that makes my soap able to sud)? I guess I was asking because I let my salt run low in my brine tank and the water wasn't being softened. If this is the same thing, then couldn't I just make sure that I kept my brine tank full of solar salt so that my water stays soft?

Is there any correlation between pH and water softness?

Edited to add: None of my lfs carry the fish, but they may be able to order some in. I'll have to see what I can manage.

 

[Dwarfs]

To help her with her eggs, get your hands on very small (2 inch diameter) flower pots (30 cents ) and half bury them in the gravel and partially cover the entrances with plants or rocks. If the clown loaches are large, they won't fit. The female will also only have to guard the front of the cave, not all sides My dad (lucky62) has had success using pots, although the female died of unknown reasons. Be sure to get the fry out as soon as she starts parading around with them, they will be very vulnerable at this point. You will notice the male wont stay with the female, but will come to help her if another fish is causing problems

 

[pnyklr3]

Well, if the only problems are the loaches eating any eggs, I think I might be alright! I have seen the little flower pots, and I think I could give adequate places to hide eggs from the clowns. Now the hard part is going to be getting my hands on them. My lfs regularly only stocks african cichlids, oscars, and jack dempseys. I even buckled down and asked the chain stores around here (they are closer than my "local" fish store), but all I got from them was ...they had no idea what kind of fish I was referring to.

Doggfather: I am fortunate that the clowns grow slowly....this will give me time to save up for a REALLY big tank!!!

 

[lucky62]

How big are your clown loaches ?

While cockatoos are cichlids , they are dwarfs and remain around 3" and under.

I've never kept clowns , but I have kept other botias .

I.M.O I don't think a female apisto stands much chance protecting her eggs from a hungry loach . You may not mind , we all have to eat

IT took me a while to find my cockatoos , I only have my male now and am looking for a couple of females .

They are much more tolerant of various water params and will adjust to slightly higher Ph as well as slightly higher water hardness .

try a local aqurium club , ask your dealer to try and locate some for you [ lotsa luck ] , I saw some for sale at liveaquaria.com $49.95 a pair . I paid $15 a piece [ L.I New York ].

My male lives happily with the other fish in my sig , they are interesting and a great looking fish as well.
Good luck

 

[pnyklr3]

My 3 clown loaches are only about 2 inches each. I notice that there are parts of the tank they don't venture to very often; could I perhaps place some pots there? Or will the loaches sniff them out and have a feast? With the livebearers I've kept, I've been of the mind "the strongest will survive". The whole natural selection thing. I may try to breed them later on, but I would like to get the apistos to have them in my tank. I think it may be the "missing link" that will bring my tank together. I'm going to talk to the owner of my lfs tomorrow.

I have also seen apisto cacatuoides on aquabid.com. Anyone have an opinion on that? I would prefer to purchase them locally for so many reasons, and I have not heard much about bidding for fish online.