A scape for Apisto...

**rc311** · 15th Sep 2014, 23:40

Hi DiGiDiDi,

Thanks for sharing.

I actually have consider borneowild cave too but I find their hole is too small plus they are not cheap. After discussing with one bro, i decided to take his advice to go as simple as possible, with my only man-made rock cave... And indeed my newly acquired borelli opal pair that I have brought 2 weeks ago has spawned on last Sunday ...

**DiGiDiDi** · 16th Sep 2014, 00:04

Congrats, and do take good care of the babies.
I got a pair of apistogramma trifasciata from GC not long ago and they spawned on 9th Aug 2014. They are the national day's babies.

**rc311** · 16th Sep 2014, 00:11

Nice! How many fry did you get?

I am still praying that the eggs are fertile... Half of it were cleaned up by the little mummy this morning!

**DiGiDiDi** · 16th Sep 2014, 00:25

I did not really count them when are swimming, I was shocked by the spawn actually.
I did not see the pair in "action", they behave quite separated before the spawn took place.

Really sorry that I am not able to give a exact figure at day 1 as my 45cm tank was heavily planted.
It became a forest when I was told not to disturb the fries and only remove the adult male.
My estimated is about 40+ on day 1. I am left with 21 now (which is near 6 weeks old).
Just shifted these 21 babies to grow up tank today. That's why can count.

**rc311** · 16th Sep 2014, 00:35

Saw your the other post, and welcome back to this hobby.

Let share and learn together.

Oh I think you would soon need a few more tanks... I just realize one tank is never enough for apisto...

**DiGiDiDi** · 16th Sep 2014, 00:46

Yup, I am planning for a 2nd 2ft somewhere near Dec 2014.
Currently has 1 x 2ft and 1 x 45cm.
Now I am looking for a 45cm tank with light set.
Will be running sponge filter and simple moss only tank.

**georgelam** · 8th Dec 2014, 13:36

Sorry to bring out an old thread but can u share your experience of raising the apisto fries? Mine never seem to last past a few days.

Take a look at my new scape for apisto and Rams too! Comments will be much appreciated. I'm looking for fellow apisto keeps with nice aquascapes. And I must say yours is real nice. Love the huge driftwood.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**rc311** · 8th Dec 2014, 18:37

Hi, I think it depends on the species of apisto fries you are raising, mine is Apisto Borelli Opal which is kind of easy to keep (which I have read). Didn't need to bother much about water parameters, I kept them at PH 6-6.5, KH 3, temp 27.5~28c. I lost almost half of the eggs during the first week (I guess they turn bad and eaten by the female) and after a week, I got about 30+ fries. I didn't separate the male and found he is eyeing on the fries, lost quite a few although female guarding fiercely. First few days is easy, the female will keep the fries together and probably feeding them. I start hatching bbs and feeding them once I spotted them free swimming. After 3 weeks I tried to intro them dry food by giving them the hikari first bites but failed, tested around one week, the fires aren't taking much and eventually lose some. Now after 3 months, I am left with 12-14, each ard 1/4 ~ 1/2 inch size... Having say that, if anyone is interested of borelli opal, pls drop me a pm...

**rc311** · 8th Dec 2014, 18:41

Btw here an updated of tank condition

**georgelam** · 9th Dec 2014, 02:02

Thanks for sharing! Im keeping german blue rams and blue steel apistos. I recently rescaped my tank.

Check out my tank here.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...-rescape-ideas

For my rams which currently have another batch of eggs, it seems that the male is more protective then the female. The male will attack the female sometimes when she is not doing her job well. Im gonna get some micro worms to feed them when they become free swimming.

Did you separate the parents and the fries now? i assume the tank in the first picture is the fry tank? I don't see any adults. How do you stock your tanks? Do you keep any other fishes with your apistos? i heard that dither fishes are important too.

**rc311** · 9th Dec 2014, 11:02

Yes I separate the male after I spotted him preying the fries. For your blue Rams, I heard that both male and female are fries guardian, though I didn't keep any before. Some say dither fishes are good to keep the pair borne but there are some that don't agree. As for me I keep dither fish to clear off the excess food that I fed on the apisto.

I have also tried micro worms when the fries are around 2 months and they are good diet for the fries to grow fast but not sure if it is suitable for the early stage fries as the worms tend to wiggling on the top or mid water. It just the smell I cannot stand so I still prefer bbs esp when now I got a hassle-free bbs setup, one hatch can last me 4 days without pump and lights.

For more on apisto, I think you should post in the apisto section, there are many helpful bros to give your advices...

**georgelam** · 9th Dec 2014, 14:36

Ill check out the cichlid forum for more information! Anyway thanks for your advise. I really like for you strike a balance between aquascaping and breeding/keeping apisto