Bebobb
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Basic Apistogramma care
Introduction
So you have been looking for a great centerpiece for your community aquarium, or just want a breeding pair to bring in a couple extra dollars every now and then. In either situation, there a few things you need to know about these fish.
Natural habitat
All of the fish from the Apistogramma species are from South America. The water in the rivers that they are found in has soft and acidic properties. In their rivers, the water has a pH from 5.5-6.0. I will discuss their water requirements later on in this article. They are found in areas that are quite lush with caves that they have adapted for breeding.
Water Requirements
In their natural habitat, Apistogramma are found in soft, acidic water with a pH of 5.5-6.0. But with them being kept in aquariums for so long, they have adapted to many water conditions. The can be kept in aquarium water similar to their natural habitat (5.5-6.0), or in water that is found in most tap water conditions. (7.0-7.5) Some people have kept them in water with a pH of as high as 8.2 for extended periods of time, even though this is not recommend, it can be done, and proves that they can adapt to many water conditions. Any where with a pH of 6.5-7.5 is ideal.
Tank setup
A tank setup for Apistogramma should be very lush with aquatic plants. There should be many hiding spots and caves. Caves are a must in aquariums with Apistogramma. They need caves because they seek shelter in them, and they are cave spawners. For a pair of Apistogramma, there should be 2-3 caves wit 3 being the most ideal. For a harem of Apistogramma, 4-5 caves should be fine.
Tank size
A pair of Apistogramma can live in a 10-gallon aquarium as long as it is heavily planted and has many hiding spots. Even though they can live in an aquarium this small, it more ideal for a pair of Apistogramma to be in a tank of roughly 14 gallons. For a harem of Apistogramma, a 16 gallon aquarium should b fine, but a 20 gallon more suited for them. This does not mean that you can’t keep them in larger aquariums; they make a great center piece in a community aquarium. But when kept in community aquariums, a pair is more ideal than a harem.
Temperament
Even though Apistogramma are cichlids, they are classified as Dwarf Cichlids, and Dwarf Cichlids are know for their peaceful nature and the ability to be kept in community aquariums. For the most part, they are peaceful, but can kind of get aggressive during breeding, but nowhere near as aggressive as a breeding pair of Convicts would be. Apistogramma would just chase tank mates away, as a Convict would kill any tank mates.
Tank Mates
There are many tank mates that can be housed with Apistogramma. Some tank mates that are not recommended are as follows:
· Corydoras- During breeding, Corydoras will “interfere” without meaning. And will get torn up, they also have a tendency to eat the eggs or the Apistogramma. Some say that they are fine with Apistogramma; I would say it is a hit and miss.
· Shrimp- Although Apistogramma are peaceful fish, they tend to view shrimp as a snack, tasty and expensive.
There are other fish that can be kept with Apistogramma, they are as follows:
· Any peaceful tetra school
· Bristle nose Pleco, or any other Pleco that stays relatively small, and is not carnivorous. May eat the eggs, but can defend themselves
· Rasaboras
· Sword Tails
· Platys
· Snails
· Most fish that you would keep in a community aquarium can be housed with Apistogramma. But please make sure that they can tolerate the high tempatures that an Apistogramma prefer.
Feeding
Apistogramma readily accept most flake and pellet food. With this being said, it does not mean that it is all that they should be fed. You should give them a variety in what you feed them. About 3 times a week, you should feed them bloodworms, brine shrimp, and any other freeze dried/ frozen/ live food. The other four times a week they should be fed flake and pellet food. Apistogramma will also readily eat homemade food. Things like tender cooked beef, boiled chicken, and tinned tuna they love.
Breeding
Apistogramma are a very easy fish to breed. The temperature should be kept at 22C-26C. The ideal pH should be 6.5-7.0. Most of them are cave spawners; which means, well, exactly what it says, they spawn in caves. They practice the normal cichlid breeding behavior, the female guards the eggs, and the male guard the larger territory. If a fish, such as a tetra, gets in their space, they will readily chase it away without doing any harm. The fry should be fed micro worms and freshly hatched brine shrimp until they can eat what the parents do, but in crushed form.
Conclusion
With proper care and maintenance , an Apistogramma can be one of the most interesting fish you have ever owned. I hope you enjoyed my article and are now considering this fish into one of your aquariums.
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