Apistogramma feeding habits

[seangee]

I am planning on getting some of these in the next few weeks - most likely a.cacatuoides.

One thought was to seed the tank with RCS a few weeks before they arrive - mine are breeding like crazy at the moment. Are the apistos more likely to tear through the tank and gorge themselves or just to eat what they need? And will they eat MTS? I suspect the answer is no but just thought I'd ask

 

[Colin_T]

nothing eats Malaysian trumpet (pain in the azzz) snails.

if you plan on breeding the Apistogrammas, I would not have any snails or shrimp in the tank because they will eat the fish eggs.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Well chances are that the will finish off all the shrimp in ~a week. This does depend on the tank though. If the shrimp can get to a place where the apistos cant you may have a chance of getting shrimp and apistos to live together. You need to remember that fish are opportunistic feeders in the wild. They never know when their next meal will be. So as a result they will eat as much as they can when ever they can. (however most will stop when their belly is full). If you want shrimp try amanos.

No, they will not eat MTS. They may if you crack the snail and remove the shell but I wouldn't go through the hastle.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

nothing eats Malaysian trumpet (pain in the azzz) snails.

if you plan on breeding the Apistogrammas, I would not have any snails or shrimp in the tank because they will eat the fish eggs.

Um. I beg to differ.

I agree

 

[seangee]

They never know when their next meal will be. So as a result they will eat as much as they can when ever they can. (however most will stop when their belly is full). If you want shrimp try amanos.

Ha ha, I didn't expect them to live in harmony when I add their natural food. Was just curious about whether it could be a semi-self sustaining food source, or if it would just make them ill.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Ha ha, I didn't expect them to live in harmony when I add their natural food. Was just curious about whether it could be a semi-self sustaining food source, or if it would just make them ill.

Can I have a pic of the tank?
It wont make them ill. You can feed them your culls. They'll happily eat them. Not a bad food but I'd feed them something else too.

 

[seangee]

Can I have a pic of the tank?
It wont make them ill. You can feed them your culls. They'll happily eat them. Not a bad food but I'd feed them something else too.

Haven't got the tank yet. should be here Tuesday or Wednesday. Size is 36x12x12". Have Ceratopteris thalicroides on order for the surface and will probably plant with cuttings scavenged from my other tanks. Most likely black water, I have a bucket full of drift wood in the garage and an oak tree outside the back gate .

Am planning to feed the same as all my tanks - but my nano has had a recent population explosion with the warmer weather, and the red tide just happens to be fresh cichlid food

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Haven't got the tank yet. should be here Tuesday or Wednesday. Size is 36x12x12". Have Ceratopteris thalicroides on order for the surface and will probably plant with cuttings scavenged from my other tanks. Most likely black water, I have a bucket full of drift wood in the garage and an oak tree outside the back gate .

Am planning to feed the same as all my tanks - but my nano has had a recent population explosion with the warmer weather, and the red tide just happens to be fresh cichlid food

Well if it's densely planted you have a chance of it working out for you. good luck!

 

[mbsqw1d]

nothing eats Malaysian trumpet (pain in the azzz) snails.

if you plan on breeding the Apistogrammas, I would not have any snails or shrimp in the tank because they will eat the fish eggs.

Won't Assassin Snails eat them?

 

[Colin_T]

no idea about assassin snails, never kept them

 

[seangee]

nothing eats Malaysian trumpet (pain in the azzz) snails.

Can't imagine what you mean - easiest thing in the world to keep under control

 

[Colin_T]

Can't imagine what you mean - easiest thing in the world to keep under control

yeah, copper sulphate.