Do Apistos Have To Be Kept In Pairs?

[Rynofasho]

Im thinking of some apisto cacatuoides for my new tank and was wondering if it is a must to keep them in pairs or if they are ok solo? If pairs, definitely male and female pair?

 

[StandbySetting]

Keeping individuals is fine.

 

[KittyKat]

I recommend pairs or harem groups because I believe most fish are social creatures and as such deserve to have others of their own kind to socialise with, when it is appropriate and in an appropriate environment, where they can not be harmed.

 

[Rynofasho]

Ok -- I just dont want to overcrowd the bottom of my tank. 75 will have 7 Peppered Corys, 4 Pandas, 6 Bronze - I was going to get 5 Botia striata, but they are impossible to find around here and even online really for that matter.

If I keep a pair, definitely male and female?

 

[KittyKat]

A pair of Apistos, or even a trio should be fine with that stocking.

But I would recommend at least 6 per Cory species and either Corys or loaches, not both.

 

[Rynofasho]

Not to be badgering you, but you still didn't answer -- male/male pair, or male/female? I'm sure two males could fight and one male could terrorize one female, so not sure which is the lesser of two evils.

And if trio, what sexes? PS I had 6 pandas but lost 2 - haven't decided whether or not to bump them back up to 6 yet but now that I'm staying away from loaches I may.

 

[StandbySetting]

Go with a Male/Female pair or Male/Female/Female trio.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Go with a Male/Female pair or Male/Female/Female trio.

+1 always best to have more females then males, i have just breeding them and both females are producing fry

 

[Rynofasho]

Fry? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

I'm up to my eyes in Bristlenose fry. Needless to say, their 'loveshack' of a root will NOT be coming over to the 75

 

[KittyKat]

A pair for Apistos is male & female, a trio is male and two female.. to be honest, I have kept 100s of A. cacatuoides before and have never had a couple of gay males

(If we mean two male fish, we won't say "pair", we will usually say "two males". "Pair", "trio" and "harem" are always used in terms of a breeding setup, even if breeding is not intended. Pair is always 1m 1f; trio can be 1m 2f or 2m 1f, depending on species; harems are usually 1m 3-5f, and usually used when talking about Apistos. There are also "family groups", but these are quite uncommon and generally mean parents + adult offspring of a species which is not aggressive to members of its own family.)

 

[Rynofasho]

Thank you for the info