Breeding cave for Apistogramma spp.

[Quincy]

Is it a must for the breeding cave to be fully enclosed except for the opening? I don't really like the idea of placing something unnatural in the tank as their breeding cave so thinking whether the driftwood below is suitable. There are a few openings at the back of the tank.

[stormhawk]

The driftwood looks fine. If you want a suggestion, those half coconut shells with a slot cut open work just as well.

[hebi]

wow looks nice imo, look very natural. in the first place i think breeding cave is not a must since illumnae bro's apisto manage to breed without a cave. im not sure though, 2nd day of me keeping apisto

[Samuel2618]

Very nice driftwood you gotten there..

But I think It will not serve as a good breeding cave as there are too many openings.. So if you have other dither fishes inside the tank.. When your apisto breed and laid eggs.. It will be a bit difficult for them to guard the cave..

Regards
Samuel

[iwishweallcouldwin]

different apistos will have different preferences, but as long as the conditions are right, they will spawn nonetheless. mine spawned on a slate of wood, illumnae's spawned on the surface of a rock, c328's laid eggs on the tank partition, i'm sure there are many many more apisto keepers in this forum who witnessed their apisto pair's 'public expression of passion', so i guess your bogwood will do just fine as well, although it has been said that apistos do prefer caves with smaller entries.

with that said, nice and natural looking cave you got there, i'm sure your apistos will love the nice hiding place.

[Ah_ZhaN]

This piece of wood works fine~!!! You can grow some moss and fern around it to create more shades.

Regards,
ZhaN

[illumnae]

trident's spawned on a breeder box side with the male inside the box and the female outside!

[wks]

This driftwood is fine and natural for apisto breeding. You can cover the rest of openings with moss. In time the pair will feel secured and you will be handsomely rewarded for your efforts.

[iwishweallcouldwin]

haha with so many good comments, if you're ever planning to sell this piece of wood, remember to contact me!

[RHX]

Nice wood you have there. I've tried similar setup in my 4 ft. However my apistos prefer coconut shells instead . Perhaps i've too much fishes in my community tank.

[trident]

hahaha yixiang thanks for reminding me
goes to show if they are ready to breed, anywhere also can

[genes]

The most amazing spawning site i have seen is a Taeniacara candidi spawning inside the plastic tube of a sponge filter. Not the big sponge filter but the smallest one where there is absolutely no way for the fish to turn about in the tube.

[Quincy]

Thanks guys for your valuable advices. Guess I will stick to this bogwood and not add an additional cave in my tank. I got a pair of App. Viejita form Biotope on Wed. Below are the pics. 2nd day in the tank still abit shy.
The male

The female

[minidevil]

nice fish you have there. and such a unique piece of bogwood you have there. maybe you want to shift to the corner of the tank, so that your App. Viejita will find it more secure. good luck...

[stormchild]

Love your wood. If only i can find a similar one that is 2 ft wide for my 4 ft tank.

[Quincy]

Just saw my female apisto chasing out an oto for being too close to the wood and noticed that the female was very yellow and had distinctive black markings on her body. Looks like just apply camou. Went to check out on her and was surprise to find eggs attached on the wood. I just got them last week, arent really prepared if the eggs do spawned hope that someone is able to provide me some advices.
Managed to get a blur pic of the female guarding her eggs. The eggs are just beside he. Notice the slightly reddish colour dots.

A pic of her this morning during feeding time

[mobile2007]

Bro, would say this is a very nice natural cave for the apisto. Like a bungalow for the fish

[Quincy]

The male has taken over the place where the eggs are laid and the female seem to be hovering around the area. Sad to say the eggs are significantly lesser. Think the male have been snacking on them. Looks like Im not going to see fries so soon.

[Quincy]

Took some pic of my male apisto flaring at the mirror. Enjoy
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