Re-visiting Apistos

[EdwinTay]

hi Guys

I kept apistos a few years ago - found them to be very interesting. I used to get them from a variety of sources including Cichlid Forever (long since closed), NKS, Y618 & my contacts from Malaysia & Taiwan. i am interested in keeping them again but I am told that they are harder to find, especially the wild ones (from Peru).

I know a few brothers here have them & am wondering if I can get a sustainable supply (I hate it when the male or female dies & cannot find a new partner). I intend to keep about 10-12 different species but, will do so only if can get replacements.

Specifically, I wonder if the following species (in order of preference) are still readily available & their prices;
1) Hongsloi 1
2) Hongsloi 2
3) Inka (JSX has but a bit pricey)
4) Hoignei
5) Malbreuter (the mouthbrooder)
6) Atahulpa (Sunset)
7) Agassizii Fire (JSX has but a bit pricey)
Vijieta
9) Mamore
10) Macmasteri
11) Bitaeniata (the purple one)
12) Breitbinden
13) Steindachneri
14) Rotkeil
15) Caca Orange
16) Caca Triple Red
17) Borellii Opal
1 Nijsseni

Many thanks ahead for feedback on steady supply & latest pricings. I don't really need advice as I kept them for a few years (still have ada soil, caves, ph Down etc.) Also would appreciate it greatly if anyone know where to get cheap glass tanks of about 12 x 8 inches in dimension - I think I need about 16 in total.

[stormhawk]

I believe there are still people who keep and breed agassizii and cacatuoides locally, but quality may differ. You can check back on the Sales forums to see if there's others still breeding them. I remember reading at least one sales thread for Maulbruter aka A. barlowi last year. The seller may still be breeding them. What you were told is pretty much correct. Of late there has been a lack of Apistos in the hobby. I haven't seen C328 sell Apistos for awhile now, even those farm-bred ones that always had sneaker males.

12 x 8 inch tanks, you can always try those bulk LFS/farms. I've seen some suitably sized tanks at GC though I believe you might have to do a special order for the quantity you need. Or you could consider the services of tank makers so that every single one is of the correct size.

[EdwinTay]

hi Bro Stormhawk

Thanks for the input.

With rgds to the tanks, I have 2 black plastic border ones which I find suitable. But, I need another 16 more & I am hoping to get them cheap.

With rgds to the apistos, I am trying to get those which are not readily available (hence the paradox). From what I know, there is a commercial breeder in Malaysia which supplies the LFS such as Y618 (with Caca, Agassizii, Viejita, Borelli etc.) I used to get Mac, Hongsloi & Inka from Taiwan (I believe they originate from Germany or Czech). The wild ones such as Maulbruter & Atahualpa are much harder to find. Some people I spoke to even said that it's because they are becoming extinct in the wild. I would like to get the rarer ones (without paying through the nose). It would be a pity if such interesting fishes die out. I went to Haig Road yesterday & asked the shopowner for "Twan Tiao" (the Chinese name for Apistos) - he doesn't even know what they are!!!

[joopsg]

For me will be
no. 3
no.4
no.5
no.6
no.13.
i dun mind getting uaupesi too.
however, i need to get my own place be4 everything can be plan.

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[EdwinTay]

hi bro Joopsg

Thanks for the input.

I have roughly the same problem as you. I am currently keeping albino guppies. To convert back to apistos, I need to completely change my set-up, including getting glass tanks of at least 1 foot. Thankfully, I have the wooden rack, some ada soil & asssorted stuff to kick-start. My biggest peeves are; (1) very difficult to get apistos nowadays (except the common ones such as caca, agassizzii), (2) when one of the partners dies - vert difficult to get replacement.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Yes it is very difficult to get apistos nowadays. Even the farm bred ones are not so common now. In recent months I've only seen the steel blue and some male red agassiziis available at Y618. The red cacatuoides available in recent years are more orange than red. For wild type cacatuoides, Jitticus was selling some a few months back. Some of the species are available at JZX from time to time. As for the pricing of inka it is roughly thereabout in recent years. As for bitaeniata they are polychromatic so the same population can throw out many different colour variants from what I understand.

[ciaossu]

Hi, agree nowadays can only see those as mention by bro chongyu. i think the good way is either source for your own supplier and group buy like what bro jitticus did when he sold me the wild caca, this way you might get some male and female but it's not guarantee though. however, there's a chance you might get different species as stated by the supplier also. JXZ is another way also, but it's a little bit expensive but anyway they're the only LFS that still provide apisto for hobbyist. aquaone at pasir ris farm might have also

[joeybabooey]

Yup, I feel you. Am getting back into apisto keeping myself now after a long breakaway and these days I haven't noticed much stock around the LFS.

Although I'm not into the breeding part of keeping apistos (yet), I'm focusing more on an apisto community display tank which i have succeeded before and I want to start that again now.

I even heard that AquaOne will not stock anymore? My last visit last year, he tore down his 'apisto wall' of mini tanks and put everything in a couple of 2 ft tanks.

There's a saying that because of CNY, LFS would want to stock more 'auspicious' fish species. Would be great if apisto keeping picks up and we can update everyone in the market for apisto availability =)

By the way, i love your wish list!

[doppelbanddwarf]

The low number of apisto hobbyists simply mean that there is little demand for these fishes and few lfses would bring in such high value fishes which are not as popular. They run the risk of having the fish take up valuable tank space for a long time if nobody buys them if they do not have a pair there is little chance of letting go of the fish. The best way to obtain them would probably be to pick up some and handcarry back from hongkong or taiwan when you are on holiday, get from JZX or even to liase with our fellow hobbyists like Jitticus in Malaysia for mass orders as ciaossu mentioned.

[EdwinTay]

hi bros

wow..many thanks for yr replies.

I do have a contact for Apistos for Taiwan but..he says even there, quite rare too. I am trying to go back to the days where one can order wild ones. I understand that CITIES may have classified many as protected.

Bro joeybabooey, yes, apistos are awesome in community tank with some tetras (e.g. neon, serpae, cardinals, bleeding heart).

i believe there is a webpage for Singapore apisto hobbists but it is inactive. I think that if we can get a core group of 20-30 hardcore hobbists, we can sort of revive the species...

With rgds to aquariums, I do not have my own transport so I can't go to farms such as AquaOne. But, I would be interested in knowing where there are still apisto farms & of course, if some kind brothers can tongpang me to go.

Personally, I have not re-started as I have to figure out what to do with my albino guppies & also have to re-configure my set-up. However, I have already plotted my strategy. By early March, I will know for sure whether I want to implement because my friend will let me know the availability of apistos in Taiwan.

Looking ahead, perhaps we can arrange some sort of casual meeting to swap apisto stories....

[joeybabooey]

Yea bro Edwin.. For some reason apisto keeping is very quiet regionally and can I say even worldwide?

Actually I am going to Taiwan/Hong Kong this year end and looking for apisto & shrimp species is on the agenda.

I'm very much wanting to start apisto keeping again and like you, looking for this core group of fellow hobbyist to get things going. I do drive and farm visits around Singapore is very probable..

This was what my apisto community tank used to be and I would love to achieve this again
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361347066.387680.jpg

[stormhawk]

The fishkeeping hobby is in decline worldwide. You can have a chat with the C328 aunty and she might tell you that business has dipped somewhat and for all LFSes too.

If you're going to Hong Kong, as usual, Tung Choi Street would be best, but the last time I was there in November last year, I did not see many apistos. Good luck on your hunt though, just don't get fleeced by unscrupulous sellers. I remember some years ago, this farm that some hobbyists used to refer to as Toh's Apisto farm, just beside Teo's plant farm, was the best place to get nice pairs. I myself bought some beautiful trifasciata there, which were very affordable and at good prices too. The farmer also had some beautiful Scarlet Badis aka Dario dario, and was just about the only place to get females.

Sadly I think the farm is no longer in operation. Now, the farm bred stuff that appears are usually of inferior quality. Only one that actually still looks good would be the Taeniacara candidi. But even those are hard to come by now.

[EdwinTay]

yes bro Stormhawk, the fish keeping hobby is dying except for bettas, large fishes. BTW, is mamore a type of trifasciata (some pple say yes)?

bro Joeybabooey - some years back I saw Eunotus at a farm (I forgot the name). If there are still apistos in farms, can I tongpang you the next time you go?

[doppelbanddwarf]

The Apistogramma sp 'mamore' has been described as Apistogramma erythrura.

[Stormz]

Sorry to sidetrack here a bit.

Brother Joey, which part of Hong Kong carry apisto? I'm going up to Hong Kong (Wan Chai) during mid March, any recommendation for fish shopping?

Planning to place a toyogo box into my luggage to protect the fishes, if I'm able to find.

[EdwinTay]

hi bro Stormz

I think one or two shops carry apistos at the Goldfish street in HK. However, I have not been there for years. The last time I was there, I found the prices quite expensive & quantity limited. Also, from what i know, the HK apistos come from Taiwan.

bro Doppelbanddwarf - thanks for the info on Mamore. So I assume that it cannot cross with Trifasciata.

[EdwinTay]

hi bros

Further to my earlier comments, I am in the midst of re-doing my apistos set-up. When completed, it should have 18 pieces of 12 x 8 inch glass tanks (with driftwood, ADA soil, java ferns, clay pots, airstones). I also have a 3 x 3 customized glass pond with small waterfall. Currently, the pond has albino guppies. I will be converting to a planted tank-like set-up with 2-3 pairs of apistos & some neon & serpae tetras.

The proviso for the success of the above set up are; (1) can find desired apistos at reasonable prices, (2) can find another 9 tanks at reasonable prices.

[joeybabooey]

Hi guys,

Bro Stormz, haha! I am going in blind! I know that these 2 countries are popular 'fish countries' so i'm just going in to grab anything good that i can find. (Both shrimps and apistos) i dont believe there's any shop that specializes in apistos? At least not anymore and more so when i go end year. I've prepared already my self-shipping packages already

I hope to rather put faith in our own resources (us guys) to bring it up again and have more shipments by our LFS

I'm excited for your setup bro Edwin! Sounds exciting! Should pay your setup a visit makes me want to start breeding instead!

[joopsg]

For me, will be setting up using 2ft and partition it into 1ft. This is because i got no confidence to control the water parameters so well. 2 racks of 2 tiers can allow 8 pairs. each partition to be equipped with sponge filter, driftwood with java moss. Dither fish will be a pair or trio.

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[EdwinTay]

bro joeybabooey - You are most welcome to visit. I already have 9 tanks ready for apistos (everything ready, even ditter neon tetras). But as I mentioned I have to convert the rest of my albino guppies. If any of you guys know anyone who wants to swap albino guppies for 1 ft glass tanks ( total of 9 pieces), please let me know.

bro joopsg - I was toying with the idea of a partitioned 2 ft tank. However, I decided against it because from my experience, the 2 pairs of apistos will spend their time flaring. If I use different 1 ft tanks, I can use a plastic sheet to block (a.k.a. betta keeping). My biggest concern is the need for frequent water change - I really hate it (after my betta & albino guppy experiences). I have used zeolite chips with limited success.