Keeping different Apistogramma spp. together

[whiskerbreed]

Hey guys, help me clear my doubts.

I know that keeping different species together might form hybrids but;

- will the possibilities be low in a large tank (say 4ft) full of hiding places?
- what if they're from different complexes, e.g. Macmasteri and Bitaeniata complex (different body shapes and probably different behaviour)?

Will they still crossbreed?


In the wild, some species co-exists together and hybrids don't occur, well, not that I know of (but of course, they're not confine to four glass walls).



SuD

[Gecko]

I just bought a pair of A. macmasteri and a pair of A. Borelli, kept in a 4ft tank with lots of hiding space, lots of tankmates (angles, discus, eartheaters, plecos, cories, tetras)...for the next 2 weeks the male Borelli did not rest till he hunted and killed the pair of mac. May be just an isolated experience.

[Savant]

I had a similar experience with A. agazissi and A. sp. Inka (cant remember the scientific name) in a 4ft tank with plenty of hiding spaces... the apistos had vicious fights until i could take it no more and decided to move one of them out...

[whiskerbreed]

Wow!
That bad huh?
Sorry for all your losses.


Say, if we put males of the same species, will they still fight?



SuD

[genes]

Yes. Unless you you put more pairs in the tank. With more pairs, the aggression is divided hence lesser chance a lone male or female will be stressed up by the alpha male till death. However, i do not know the numbers to put.

[whiskerbreed]

Yes. Unless you you put more pairs in the tank. With more pairs, the aggression is divided hence lesser chance a lone male or female will be stressed up by the alpha male till death. However, i do not know the numbers to put.

When you say 'pairs', you meant keeping many pairs of the same or different species?



SuD

[valice]

When you put multiple pairs into a tank, your main objectives will probably just to enjoy the fish, not really to breed the fish.

So why not consider just getting multiple males? Do not really need to buy pairs.

Genes meant multiple pairs of either same species or multiple species. As long as aggression could be divided up till not just one guy is haunted forever, it will be fine.

I believe there was a member who used to have a tank of just male apistogrammas. Beautiful collection.

[DCguy]

I believe that you can keep two different species in a tank this size but the trick is to aquascape the tank so that you set up two distinct clearing areas that are set up to be Apisto habitats. If you put one area at each end of the tank and establish some sort of solid barrier that disrupts line of sight between them you can get each species to inhabit each end of the tank. This will not work with an open floor area. You must start with the dividing barrier in the center of the tank. When I do this I use rocks piled up at least a third of the way to the surface and then add plants (java moss, java fern, anubias, etc.) to the pile to make a pretty solid wall. Of course, the fish can move over and through this area but it provides a distinct territory for each species and often you can establish a neat tank this way.

DC

[exotic_idiot]

When you put multiple pairs into a tank, your main objectives will probably just to enjoy the fish, not really to breed the fish.

So why not consider just getting multiple males? Do not really need to buy pairs.

Genes meant multiple pairs of either same species or multiple species. As long as aggression could be divided up till not just one guy is haunted forever, it will be fine.

I believe there was a member who used to have a tank of just male apistogrammas. Beautiful collection.

Don't they fight? I tried putting few males together inside a 2ft tank heavily planted but the bigger male keep chasing the small ones...