What To Add In With Single Apisto?

[magpie]

Hi there,

I posted a while back. I have a 65 gallon heavily planted community tank. My initial stocking had a pair of Apistogramma Baenschi "inka" and a pair of Laetacara Araguaiae. All was going well until the Araguaiae decided to spawn. While this was wonderful, fascinating, and a fantastic experience, the pair continually spawned, one pretty much right after another. While they did not attack the Apistos, they chased them constantly and I was worried about the constant stress in the tank. Initially I thought they'd spawn and then wait awhile, but there was not much of a break in between spawns. While I LOVED the Araguaiae, I had to rehome the pair because this tank's focus is a community, not a spawner. (Someday, when we have a larger house, I'd love to have a dedicated tank for them and have them again as a focused breeding pair!)

Unfortunately, my male Inka died not too long after. I'm thinking it was the stress, likely.

So now, I have a community tank and a single female Inka. It's been this way for awhile and she's doing great, as is the tank overall, but I'd like to add another dwarf species. I am kind of attached to her, our original dwarf lady, so would prefer not to rehome her. I don't want to get back into a stressful tank situation again.

My thoughts are along these lines:
- Dicrossus Maculatus - I've always been interested in them. I'm pretty sure I could get a pair or trio of these and they wouldn't bother the Apisto even if they did spawn, which it sounds like isn't all that likely with my pH (I read that they like it around 5.5 to spawn).

- Rams, of course, and I do like their interactive nature. I love the coloration of the GBRs (and they were my first ever dwarf cichlid), but am thinking that if I happened to get a pair and they started spawning, they'd possibly harass the Inka (?) If I happened to get 2 males or 2 females, I'm not sure how likely it would be that they'd fight with each other - any input on this? I could do a single male, I guess.
- Bolivians from what I've read would be less likely to bother anyone, even if they did happen to spawn, so I could do a pair or trio?

- A couple of single fish, just for personality and color, since I want peace over spawning. Maybe one Laetacara Dorsigera, one Ram. (Then I get my Laetacara, which I love, but without the worry.)

- Or a pair/trio of Dicrossus AND a single fish like a GBR or Dorsigera.

What do you think?

My last option (a pair/trio of Dicrossus and one single GBR/Bolivian/Dorsigera would be my ideal choice since I'd get an interactive fish, but then the pretty and unique Dicrossus. But then maybe that would be too many dwarves, even with the peaceful nature of the Dicrossus.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Personally I think the last option, would work just fine. They're all relatively passive, so should present no problems.

 

[DrRob]

Oddly, tonight I'm putting fish into a new 65 gallon, which include a single apisto (an agassizi male here).

I've been trying to work out what to do myself. Hadn't thought of Dicrossus Maculatus so I'll have a look at them. I had considered rams (mainly bolivian) and other apisto types. Was also thinking of going bigger with angels or festivums.

Otherwise, had you considered keyholes?

 

[magpie]

Personally I think the last option, would work just fine. They're all relatively passive, so should present no problems.

Great, thanks!

Oddly, tonight I'm putting fish into a new 65 gallon, which include a single apisto (an agassizi male here).

I've been trying to work out what to do myself. Hadn't thought of Dicrossus Maculatus so I'll have a look at them. I had considered rams (mainly bolivian) and other apisto types. Was also thinking of going bigger with angels or festivums.

Otherwise, had you considered keyholes?

Keyholes have never been that attractive to me, and I'm not all that sure why. I prefer the above rams, laetacara, and dicrossus for some reason.... If I were starting over I may consider some larger cichlids, but I'm really happy with the other fish in my current stocking so I think dwarves are the best choice for me at this point in time, unless anyone has any other ideas.

 

[magpie]

Well, I got a nice Dicrossus Maculatus pair today. Put them in, and even with the lights off, the female Apisto is giving them the stink-eye and slowly backing them away from her favorite spots, although she's had the whole place to herself cichlid-wise for several months now. We'll see how she does over the next few days, hopefully she'll relax a bit more. The Dicrossus are listening to her but not terrified. They're exploring everywhere, and don't seem phased much by the move. At least I have good hiding spots all over for them.

I was going to see how this goes and then go from there. Based on her initial posturing, it makes me fairly sure i don't want to add another male Inka. Again, I love dwarf cichlids, but not stressing about my fish being stressed.

 

[thereverendturtle]

She should be over it in a day or two. Do you have pics yet?

 

[magpie]

She should be over it in a day or two. Do you have pics yet?

Yeah, I think so too - there is plenty of room. She's just used to being Queen Cichlid.

No photos yet - I keep the lights off for the first day when I introduce new fish. I'll take some in the next day or so. Stay tuned!