Apistogramma trifasciata - feasibility study

[kradeij]

I went down to Biotope on sunday and a pair of A.trifasciata instantly caught my eyes . Now I am thinking of adding a pair to my current 2ft tank as seen in the following thread:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=28500

However, I would first like to find out how feasible it is to add a pair of A.trifasciata to my current setup (I am totally new to Apisto). I have the following few questions:

(1) Given that I have to lower the PH of the water, would it be detrimental to my current floras and faunas?

(2) Would my current set-up be suitable for Apisto as I read that they would require well-filtered water (my tank is filterless) and prefer a darker surrounding.

(3) Would my current faunas be suitable tankmates for Apisto and vice versa?

Thanks.

[genes]

Hi There Kradeij

Thio has a nice collection of Ap. Trifasciata at affordable price. Grab them while they are still there!

1) You flora and fauna will be ok as long as you don't crash your PH. Many of us use ADA Aquasoil in our planted tank thats brings PH below 6. ap. Trifasciata are good apistos to begin with because they are not particular about water PH. They can do well in neutral water too. So you need not have to lower the PH of your water. However, some suggest that a lower PH brings out the best colouration and finnages of the apsitos.

2) Your current setup is good enough to house a pair of Ap. Trifasciata. You may want to look for caves for the apistos to hide in when they breed or feel threatened. You can do so with rocks, or even small ceramic pots. I strongly suggest you get a filter for your tank. Clean water will certaintly give you healthy flora and fauna.

3) If your aim is to enjoy the presence of an apisto pair in your tank, the faunas you currently have will be fine. Apistos are usually aggressive when they are breeding, or towards another apisto in the tank. Some breeders do not put any faunas with their apistos at all, some put faunas to act as dithers for the apistos.

Check out this picture of Ap. Trifasciata taken in Biotope
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=28445

[kradeij]

Can't resist the temptations!!! Hence I went down to Biotope today and got a pair of A. trifasciata!

Here's a couple of pictures of the male




The male seems to take to my tank well but not the female. She keeps hiding in a corner.

Please advise if this is common?

[benny]

Congratulations on your new purchase!

You need to provide enough hiding space in your tank for the new pair. Preferably, something that ensure that there are spots where the two fishes are not within line of sight of each other.

Cheers,

[wasabi8888]

What i did was to fill the tank with Java ferns and winderlov ferns... works wonders...

[kradeij]

Thanks!

There should be enough hiding place and spots where they couldn't see one another in my tank.

Would the male attack the female if he sees the female?

[wasabi8888]

Yes, he will attack it...

[yaya]

Yeah it is true because i have a pair in my tank now.

[kradeij]

Hmmm. Looks like I should add some small pieces of driftwood to create more hiding spot.

But why would the male attack the female? They are supposed to "make love, not war".

[genes]

They will make love, then war when the male wants to breed again...

[taygu]

Remember to crate a cave like hiding spot for the female to lay eggs..