Breeding Behaviour of Apistogramma agassizii

**wasabi8888** · 11th Oct 2006, 10:46

Hi all

Need to ask on the above.

I have a pair of the above. I got this pair from Aphistoworld in HK and kept them with other apistos since late August. I took them out and kept them together in mid September 06. So they have been together on their own for just 1 month.

I understand that a female A.agassizii when ready for breeding, is bright yellow in color and it's stripe in the middle becomes a dot. Is that true? Currently, my female A.agassizii is still greyish yellow in color. Picture as attached.

However, the male keeps chasing the female into the cave and refuses to even let her come out to eat.

I have taken the male out and will wait for the color of the female A.agassizii to change its jacket. After which, i will add back the male.

Is the above ok?

I know sometimes some pairs are not compatible. WHEN and HOW do i draw the line and make that conclusion? i do not have many tanks. If this pair cannot breed, then i will proceed to breed others.

Please advise.

**Cacatuoides** · 11th Oct 2006, 11:46

I have the same situation as you too, male keeps chasing female into the cave....Maybe can leave them as it is for sometime, there's might be a change of situation, have read about such behaviour somewhere in the web.

**wasabi8888** · 11th Oct 2006, 12:00

Hi Eman

I scared the female doesnt eat.. that's why i took the male out.. see whether the female change color to bright yellow or not...

**celticfish** · 11th Oct 2006, 12:59

wasabi8888,
i heard some put a partition.
this allows them to see one another and you can continue to condition the female.
after two week... take off partition and...

seems like your idea of keeping only females has gone out the window dude!!

**Cacatuoides** · 11th Oct 2006, 13:30

Oh yes....I've kept them separated by a partition for the last one week, only this week, i've removed it....thats when the chasing started!! Should I separate them again? the female is eating well and fattening while the male is extremely choosy on food....

**wks** · 11th Oct 2006, 16:50

Eman, get a few more pairs and let them sort out themselves.

**wasabi8888** · 11th Oct 2006, 17:05

Hi wks

Are you saying that behaviour like the above means that they are not compatible? How long should we keep them together for?

**wks** · 11th Oct 2006, 17:28

If you see your female fish turning dark all the time,it means she is stressed by the male's constant harassment. Best way to solve the pairing probelm of any apistogramma is to observe and confirm the fishes become a couple (preferrably at least one spawning experience) before you buy them from lfs.
Since you got your fish from overseas, did you inform the fish shop owner that you want a confirmed pair?
If not, then I'm afraid you may have a problem of incompatibility if you observe the above symptom exhibited by the female after a few weeks. The next best thing to do is to get a few more pair to reduce the existing male's agression because he has other "targets".
The above is just my experience from keeping apistos, maybe other experts can comment on this issue.

**wasabi8888** · 11th Oct 2006, 22:28

Separate question on this. Did not want to start a new thread though..

I have 2 big yamato shrimps in the breeding tank. Do the shrimps eat the eggs before they hatch?

**PeterGwee** · 11th Oct 2006, 22:31

Apistos take care of their young and would attack the shrimps if they do something funny around the eggs.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**Cacatuoides** · 11th Oct 2006, 22:32

Originally Posted by wks

Eman, get a few more pairs and let them sort out themselves.

Get similar species? I'm thinking of adding a pair of rams or a different pair of apisto to ease the situation....going to biotope for a pair of rams this weekend

**wks** · 16th Oct 2006, 00:12

Hi wasabi8888, any update on your A agassizii pair?

**wasabi8888** · 16th Oct 2006, 10:16

not at all.. I have separated them since mid of last week. Pumping up the female with live brine shrimp everyday. Will probably add the male in this week and observe for another week or so. If the male still chases the female around and prevents her from coming out of her cave, i will assume that this pair is not compatible.

What do you think of the above?

**leeruisheng** · 16th Oct 2006, 11:53

Yeah that's what I did. Have them condition well in separated tanks but yet can see each other. After a month or so, I saw the female flare with puff cheeks at the male occasionally and turn golden orange. That's when I put them together again. And they were into breeding mood. Maybe I would suggest don't put them together back so soon. Ensure that the female is quite well fed, starts to flare at the male and a change into her dress colour of mating. Only then would I suggest you to place them together again. I'm no expert in breeding and spawning Apistogramma. This is based on my experience. If things go wrong don't find me. hehe.

Cheers

Originally Posted by celticfish

wasabi8888,
i heard some put a partition.
this allows them to see one another and you can continue to condition the female.
after two week... take off partition and...

seems like your idea of keeping only females has gone out the window dude!!

**wasabi8888** · 16th Oct 2006, 12:29

Rui Sheng

wanted to ask you about this..

How do you take the male out? What i mean is.. i have currently 2 tanks.. 1 community tank which i am housing most apistos including the male A.agassizii and 1 breeding tank where the female is currently housed.

I cant move the 2 tanks together cos they are too heavy. Should I get a small tank, fish out the male and put it in (with water from community tank)?

What do i need to put in the small tank? gravel? filter? airstone?

My small tank is really small. more for guppies and betta (15cmX12cmX17cm).

Any advice?

**leeruisheng** · 16th Oct 2006, 18:19

Hi Wasabi,

Why don't you place a partition in your breeding tank? It will be easier that way, plus they will be sharing the same water parameters. You will also know when they are ready for breeding in the change of colour. And then just remove the partition.

Cheers

**wasabi8888** · 16th Oct 2006, 19:05

but how can the filter operate on both sides? unless have very small holes?

i am using a hangon filter

**leeruisheng** · 16th Oct 2006, 23:25

Ya either partition must have lots of small perforated holes or some partition comes with suction caps attach to the walls as slots for your acrylic sheet in perpendicularly orientation, thus there will be a small gap between the wall and partition allowing water to flow bidirectional. Not sure if it's clear but hopefully to you grasp the idea. C328 has lots of partition in modular form. Maybe you can check it out.

Cheers

**wasabi8888** · 16th Oct 2006, 23:35

Rui Sheng

So C328 has those partitions? with holes as well?

**leeruisheng** · 16th Oct 2006, 23:54

Not too sure about the holes. Sorry.

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