A. bitaeniata

[Slaigar]

Hello All,
Last weekened I went out of town and picked up a few cichlids. Other than A. bitaeniata, I picked up two Julidochromis species (transcriptus "gombi" and regani "kipili").

At the store, the Apistogrammas were labeled A. agassizii. I never had any before so I picked up seven of them. Upon doing some research, I read that A. agassizii has spade like tails. The tails of all the fish I had were torn and shredded, so I could not distinguish by that. But there was a close resemblance to a lyretail rather than spade that was barely noticeable on one.





It took me awhile, but I think this resembles A. bitaeniata rather than A. agassizii. A little bit of time and shuffling through RVA's photos, I managed to find one with a similar pattern:
http://www.rva.jp/apisto/kleei.html

Anyone have any experience breeding these? Right now they are in 50/50 water of tap and RO. I think I might have 4 males and 3 females. Their colours are not defined yet and the largest fish is about 1.5"

[hobbit6003]

Yeah, looks like Ap. bitaeniata to me alright.

It looks like mine too:



Well, like all Apistos, they need soft, slightly acidic water, and lots of patience and privacy. Leave them alone and they'll do their stuff. Once settled, they'll definitely colour up.

Cheers,

Kenny

[A.Rashid]

A. bitaeniata are considered to be one of the hard to breed apisto species. but here, in Singapore many have successfully breed them including myself.

From my experience, bitaeniata needs a lots of privacy, mine spawn in a 1 feet cube tank with 2 pairs of them in it. Ph at 4.5, little aeration. Leave them alone feed once a day will do and hopefully in a few days when they find it comfortable, they will spawn for you.

Colouring up will also appear once they are very "at home". Like any other cichlids behaviour female in brooding mood are very fierce you have to monitor them for aggressiveness amongst the pair.


Have fun.