Apistos. Tank Too Small?

[doresy]

This is just a thought so don't shoot me down...ok

I have just lost my old Betta which means I have a tank spare (no more Betta's)

Tank is an AquaOne 380 with excellent filtration, 34Lts (7.5 UK. 9US galls)

Dimentions are 370mm wide by 245mm deep by 380mm high.

Tank no good for a pair of Triple Reds I suppose

 

[Davo86]

At a push with no tankmates and a proven pair then it might be ok,
But I would say that the footprint of the tank simply isn't big enough and personally I wouldn't consider keeping them in anything less than a 15G

 

[saz326]

..You gonna start breeding these too!!??

I recon its on the lower limit of what you can get away with. These fish build teritories, and are hareem spawners. You could keep a male with a single female in this sized tank, but a second female would never establish a teritory to spawn in.

Put it this way, my Male and female live in a tank with a 1 metre by 40cm base size, and they think they own the place!

You'd need to densly plant the tank so that if the male became agressive to the female (as happens depending on her breeding ststus) she could swim off and shelter. Plenty of caves would also be a must. Including some that the female can get into but the male cannot.

 

[doresy]

Here is the tank as it is now

 

[minxfishy]

Ive got the same tank, albeit a via aqua, as Davo says, if you can guarantee a pair, then you might get away with it, otherwise I would say no, as they wont have the space to set up their own territorys if they dont hit it off.

Get some little ADF's dorsey, they are lovely little things and you could get a good few in there, very entertaining and easy to take care for. Just an idea

 

[doresy]

Ive got the same tank, albeit a via aqua, as Davo says, if you can guarantee a pair, then you might get away with it, otherwise I would say no, as they wont have the space to set up their own territorys if they dont hit it off.

Get some little ADF's dorsey, they are lovely little things and you could get a good few in there, very entertaining and easy to take care for. Just an idea

Yes, thinking about that for a while. About 7-8 I guess. Only trouble is the tank is a little tall which will mean quite a bit of swimming when going for air.

Also means a lot of activity at the bottom and none elsewhere. Bit like my Pygmy Cory which will be moving accross to the community tank. I shall re post over in the general forum as I am going to forget the Apisto idea for this tank

 

[Bigpig]

ADF=frogs?

 

[minxfishy]

Yup ADF = African Dwarf Frogs bigpig

Mine have no problems whatsoever getting to the surface dorsey, they are pretty good swimmers, even one I have with only one arm, reaches with no problems You could add a small shoal of something non nippy as well to give the top some activity

 

[mattbond]

just wondering, would borellis be any better than cockatoos? they're smaller arent they?

 

[doresy]

Ok, was in the old LFS this afternoon and spoke of my dilemma regarding the now vacant Betta tank.

They suggested, without any input from me (honest!), Cockatoo Apisto. Of course they just happened to have a paired couple which I have to admit are gorgeous (not a word I often use! )

Now I said that wasn't the little 34 litre just too small but they suggested that with plenty of plants and a cave they would be just fine. (I know, the two different kinds of fishkeeping....hobby and retail )

Here is the tank now with plenty of plants which will grow and 2 sizable bits of bogwood to help with the ph level.

What do you think, I haven't got them but I am seriously thinking about it!

 

[stang1]

I kept a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides in that size tank with no problems. They were a pair and ended up breeding, producing about 20 fry on the first attempt. I did have to remove the male though, as the female was very protective and kept chasing him.
I think it could work provided you have a spare tank to put the male if they do breed.
Your tank looks great, by the way!

 

[minxfishy]

Looks great dorsey, you can but give it a try, its always worth a shot

 

[doresy]

I kept a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides in that size tank with no problems. They were a pair and ended up breeding, producing about 20 fry on the first attempt. I did have to remove the male though, as the female was very protective and kept chasing him.
I think it could work provided you have a spare tank to put the male if they do breed.
Your tank looks great, by the way!

Oh that's encouraging! I am pretty well decided on it anyway. Can't do any harm to try. I have nothing aggressive in my community tank, 'worse come to the worst'

Always appreciate your input stang1 Off for a large voddy and a bath now....see ya

 

[stang1]

Thanks Doresy.
Let us know how you get on and enjoy your bath.

 

[doresy]

Well, I got me a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides (Cockatoo Cichlids) which have been soaking for about an hour now so just going to drip them for a while.

The LFS had them for about a month in tap water and as they are only about half a mile away I'm guessing my tap water is the same. Did my stats before going to get them and to my surprise my nitrates are down to 10 ppm, two days after a water change which isn't bad considering I get 40ppm on draught! Oh come on, you know you don't have to ask me about ammonia and nitrite

Anyways, we will have a new post with photo's once they are settled in