keeping dwarf cichlids

[Nauplii]

Hi, has anyone got any information or knowledge that would help me in deciding how to set up a dwarf cichlid tank( for the triple reds, i mite also get some chocolate gouramis too) like what temperature, ph n stuff....
ive been told that a sponge filter is sufficient.

oh also doea anyone know what can be kept with dwarf cichlids?

 

[Nauplii]

no one?

 

[Nauplii]

i thought id edit the post a bit to say dwarf cichlids....

 

[lucky62]

Cockatoos are probably the most forgiving of the apistos .

I have had my male for 6 months , his mate died about 2 months ago . I think the male harassed her to much .

That said it is best to have about three females per male , bare minimun of 2 females .

One to one is not a good combo , the males get twice as big [ maybe even more ].And the females need a break from the males advances .

Also a good amount of cover should be provided , in the form plants , caves , things they can hang out in and rest .


My PH is just on alkaline side of neutral , and my water is slightly hard , the temp is 78 Fahrenheit, the fish is thriving , when the female was alive they bred many times and even herded fry around my tank [ check my Sig ] . After the last batch was eaten by the tanks inhabitants , the male just rode her into the ground , 1 or 2 more females may have made the difference........ the trouble is most shops will only sell pairs .

Now I hear they do better in softer and more slightly acidic water as well .
not sure what others keep theirs in tank wise

Also try searching GOOGLE that's what did and still do .

By the way the apistogramma cockatoids is a very good choice , as long as you can swing the price these little fish bring in , you'll love keeping them .

a sponge filter[ size appropriate ] is good as long as you do regular water changes , my 70 gallon has an under gravel filter driven by power heads , that's all , been that way for 3 years . That and the plants are my filtration . I change 20 to 30 % of the water each week .

 

[Nauplii]

thank you lucky i will surely turn to you for tips... if i were to get 1 male and a few females what size tank would be sufficient?

And what would be good tank mates? i was thinking of chocolate gouramis or something...

 

[lucky62]

Cockatoos are probably the most forgiving of the apistos .

I have had my male for 6 months , his mate died about 2 months ago . I think the male harassed her to much .

That said it is best to have about three females per male , bare minimun of 2 females .

One to one is not a good combo , the males get twice as big [ maybe even more ].And the females need a break from the males advances .

Also a good amount of cover should be provided , in the form plants , caves , things they can hang out in and rest .


My PH is just on alkaline side of neutral , and my water is slightly hard , the temp is 78 Fahrenheit, the fish is thriving , when the female was alive they bred many times and even herded fry around my tank [ check my Sig ] . After the last batch was eaten by the tanks inhabitants , the male just rode her into the ground , 1 or 2 more females may have made the difference........ the trouble is most shops will only sell pairs .

Now I hear they do better in softer and more slightly acidic water as well .
not sure what others keep theirs in tank wise

Also try searching GOOGLE that's what did and still do .

By the way the apistogramma cockatoids is a very good choice , as long as you can swing the price these little fish bring in , you'll love keeping them .

a sponge filter[ size appropriate ] is good as long as you do regular water changes , my 70 gallon has an under gravel filter driven by power heads , that's all , been that way for 3 years . That and the plants are my filtration . I change 20 to 30 % of the water each week .

When I began to post my reply you were asking about triple red apistos , have you changed your mind already ? come back


Small gouramis should work , I had a sparkling [ I think ] gourami a few years ago.What a pretty little fish , the problem was that he liked to jump from the tank I kept him in to the tank right next to his . He successfully made the jump 4 or 5 times before he missed the mark little guy .

 

[lucky62]

thank you lucky i will surely turn to you for tips... if i were to get 1 male and a few females what size tank would be sufficient?

And what would be good tank mates? i was thinking of chocolate gouramis or something...

20 gal , maybe 30 , long footprint is always best .

 

[lucky62]

thank you lucky i will surely turn to you for tips... if i were to get 1 male and a few females what size tank would be sufficient?

And what would be good tank mates? i was thinking of chocolate gouramis or something...

Small gouramis would probably work o.k. .

My apisto only comes to the top to eat , mostly he hangs out nearer to the bottom , and most gouramis hang nearer to the top .

I would say get the biggest tank you can afford [ I always do say that ] because , you can also add some small shoaling fish as well , some otos , some cories...........

The gouramis love floating plants b.t.w.

 

[Nauplii]

cool, sounds good... em i still was asking about the triple reds..... i think they are cute

em, do they need anything specific like gravel or sand or either...


oh n is there anything else you can keep em with?

 

[Nauplii]

ooo sounds good... i like cories i wanted a clown loach or two but i didnt know

 

[lucky62]

cool, sounds good... em i still was asking about the triple reds.....  i think they are cute

em, do they need anything specific like gravel or sand or either...

I have like 1/8 " gravel in my tank , but I don't see why sand would be a problem .Triple reds are amazing to look at esp when they have that whitish blue color through the body , the one I have now has it only on his lip .
And he has a very small amount of red on his anal fin , so he's more like a double red

Also I got some good tips from C.F.C .

I'll try and think of some other fish that can be kept wth apistos [ I have to go have dinner now ] did you look at my sig , these fish all get along real good , I'm thinking about getting something that schools myself, maybe I'll try some small gouramis .

Don't worry some one else will come along to help you out , I'll check back .

 

[lucky62]

do you want to have them bread for you ?
if so loaches can throw it down like the best of em , if you know what I mean .

and they will get past the mother apisto to eat the fry.
Fry can be removed , eggs for that matter . It is best to let the female care for them as long as possible .


Female apistos for the most part stay under 2 " while males are closer to 3 "..

You may want to get a dwarf chain loach or a skunk loach they stay smaller then clown loaches , though not as colorful .


Fish to keep with triple red cockatoos
RASBORAS

Cherry barbs

ZEBRA DANIOS

Though I have never seen them in shops I think Threadfin Rainbow fish would do well with these apistos .
I'm sure there are many others.

 

[Nauplii]

cool, ill comment more tomoro but i gotta go bed night

 

[SarahBravo]

I've got a pair of dwarf Agassi apistos in my community tank at the moment - they are real characters, I'm seriously considering getting them a tank on their own and a couple more females. They only harass other fish when they invade the territory they've staked out - a couple of fin nibbles, nothing major. they don't swim like other fish - they seem to hover, then dart.... then hover, then dart. They are really cool! They need lots of caves with small entrances though - I'm having a go with some terracotta plant pots and a drill tomorrow to see if i can make some!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Sarah

 

[Dwarfs]

Apistos are good fish They would probably (most likely) be compatable with:
Apistos
Plecos
cories
otos
various tetras
rainbowfish
the fish Lucky62 mentioned
Loaches
gouramis
rams

The list could go on