New To Dwarfs

[thomasp9021]

hi
after keeping several types of tropical fish including some large cichlids for the past 4 years i have decided to keep and breed dwarfs i was hoping some one could suggest the best suitable species to begin with.
my tank is about 25 gallons and is decorated with rock and bogwood also sand substrate.
what are the best water parameters to aim for and how can i achieve the soft acidic water im told they will need.
my lfs is selling dwarfs labelled as red tailed cacs £10 per pair are these hardy and is that about the right price. how many pairs should i keep.
thanks

 

[shroob]

The dwarfs your LFS is selling are most likely Apistogramma cacatuoides. They are indeed hardy and are a good beginner to dwarf cichlids. Not sure on price but if you like them go for it.
Brief Profile
Beginner article on A. cacatuoides
Another article
General apisto care

Another popular dwarf cichlid thats commonly available is the Bolivian Ram, more hardy but less colourful than the blue ram. Bolivian rams may also be a good starting point.

Depending on your waters stats it may be best not to alter things, the A. cacatuoides (cockatoo dwarf cichlids - what your LFS is most likely calling red tailed cacs) is most likely tank bread from a large fish farm unless stated as 'Wild caught' or 'F0/F1/F2' and should be able to adapt to your local water conditions as long as extremes are avoided. You could ask your LFS what paramaters the fish are being kept in at the shop to get an idea.

If you do decide to try and alter your pH/hardiness then long term methods are better than 'quick fixes', by this I mean the use of bogwood (which I see you already have) and possibly peat is better than the chemical addatives that you can buy which may cause swings in pH. A stable pH is more important than trying to fiddle around and risk the chance of pH swings or crashes.

 

[Goodygumdrops]

Just a wee heads up,Tropical Fishkeeping magazine has a feature on dwarf cihlids this month

 

[Colin_T]

Apistogramma cacatuoides (also known as cockatoo dwarf cichlids) are from South America and are very hardy if locally bred. Get a pr (1m & 1f) and put them in the tank. Keep the PH around 7 and the temperature around 26C. Then just let them do their thing. They will breed quite readily and produce a lot of young. They make great parents and the males look quite stunning when they are mature.
The babies can be fed on newly hatched brineshrimp as soon as they are free swimming.

 

[thomasp9021]

ok thanks will get a pair then a will also get some peat as i want my water soft for any future dwarf additoins like the more delicate ram you mentoin

 

[Colin_T]

rams and other dwarf cichlids don't need soft acid water unless they are wild caught, and most aren't wild caught. They are all readily bred in Asia and Germany and will tolerate a wide range of conditions.