What soil do we normally use to keep Apistogramma?

[exotic_idiot]

Hi all, I'm using ada amazonia 2... Hmmm so far no problem but i notice that my fries amount is little.. Everytime only 7 or 8 fries each batch? Is it PH problem? That means apistogramma needs lower PH...? Is ada africana a better choice?

[illumnae]

which apistos are you breeding? smaller spawns may be a result of inexperienced parents or overstressed parents. I've bred apistos in inert substrate (aquaclay), ADA Africana (ph 5.1) and Gex soil (ph ~6.5) and i've not noticed a co-relation between ph and spawn size. the rumour is that ph will affect the male:female ration in broods, though i think this has not been scientifically proven yet

[celticfish]

illumnae,

I believe Dr. Uwe Romer has done experiments and published it in the Mergus Cichlid Atlas Vol. 1.
Temparature and pH apparently affects the sex ratio.
There is also mention of the time required when the sex ratio is determined.
Which does what for the sex ratio eludes me at the moment...

exotic idiot,

Which soil will depend on the species you are keeping.
Generally ADA Amazonia is good enough at about 6 pH
ADA Africana is used for species that require the lower 5.1 pH as mentioned by illumnae.

[illumnae]

thanks for the heads up on the experiments conducted i stand corrected!

[mobile2007]

I'm using GEX soil but i acidentally mixed in some river sand with coral chips, pH is always 7.6 ( my test kit upper limit). The cacatuoides and trifasciata have no problem with that.

[exotic_idiot]

illumnae,

I believe Dr. Uwe Romer has done experiments and published it in the Mergus Cichlid Atlas Vol. 1.
Temparature and pH apparently affects the sex ratio.
There is also mention of the time required when the sex ratio is determined.
Which does what for the sex ratio eludes me at the moment...

exotic idiot,

Which soil will depend on the species you are keeping.
Generally ADA Amazonia is good enough at about 6 pH
ADA Africana is used for species that require the lower 5.1 pH as mentioned by illumnae.

I suggest that apisto keepers use ada africana beacause most apisto species require lower ph unless they are used to our high ph waters..
I also notice the spawn quite small using amazonia..

I'm using GEX soil but i acidentally mixed in some river sand with coral chips, pH is always 7.6 ( my test kit upper limit). The cacatuoides and trifasciata have no problem with that.

These 2 species are quite hardy.. If they are bought locally bred and not import.. Then you know what i mean...

[mobile2007]

Actually i'm referring to the size of the spawn not affected by the pH.

If I'm not wrong, Biotope actually posted the pH of water soaked with various ADA soil. Malayan actually has the lowest pH.

For me, I use horti-moss, put them inside woman's stocking, soaked them overnight with aeration. Getting good result.

Don't see any reports on the net mentioning pH affecting the size of the spawn.

[illumnae]

my largest spawn so far has been with Gex soil at about ph 6.5, larger than all my spawns using africana at ph 5.1

higher ph reducing spawn size is a myth

[exotic_idiot]

My 3 spawn all very little.. 7, 8 or 9 the most.. Very disappointing..
Wander where went wrong?

[mobile2007]

Pump them up with bloodworm when you know that they will spawn again ?

Too much distraction/dither fishes around ?

Breeding Cave too small?

[taygu]

My aga just spawned with size of about 20 frys with bare bottom tank.

I think is the food you feed before they spawned that will affect the spawn size..

[jacian]

I am using africana for all my apisto tank. I doubt the ph will affect the size of the brood. Unless you are having a planted tank, I will think the africana will be a better choice than the amazonia. Not only on the ph but also that the amazonia soil does contain fertiziler which may affect nitrate level of the water.

[taygu]

But one thing I do noticed is the fish is very much radiant in a lower ph water. I tried it with Africana, the RAM and the Tri at that time was super...

[exotic_idiot]

Pump them up with bloodworm when you know that they will spawn again ?

Too much distraction/dither fishes around ?

Breeding Cave too small?

My aga just spawned with size of about 20 frys with bare bottom tank.

I think is the food you feed before they spawned that will affect the spawn size..

Hi mobile and taygu, No dither fish and i put a few breeding caves for them to choose.. I always buy bs to pump them up? Maybe because of bs? Salty reason..? But i always wash them before feeding..

I am using africana for all my apisto tank. I doubt the ph will affect the size of the brood. Unless you are having a planted tank, I will think the africana will be a better choice than the amazonia. Not only on the ph but also that the amazonia soil does contain fertiziler which may affect nitrate level of the water.

But one thing I do noticed is the fish is very much radiant in a lower ph water. I tried it with Africana, the RAM and the Tri at that time was super...

Bro jacian, i do agree that amazonia contain some fertiziler.. That time why i choose it because i wanted to plant some nice foreground and background plants...
Bro taygu, that's what i notice also.. They(apisto) display great colours when kept in a lower PH...
So do we all agree that ada africana soil is a better choice to use when we keep apisto?

[taygu]

Hi mobile and taygu, No dither fish and i put a few breeding caves for them to choose.. I always buy bs to pump them up? Maybe because of bs? Salty reason..? But i always wash them before feeding..
Bro taygu, that's what i notice also.. They(apisto) display great colours when kept in a lower PH...
So do we all agree that ada africana soil is a better choice to use when we keep apisto?

Have never try Amazonia, but understand from expert yorky, Africana is the best.

As for pumping them up for spawning, I always used frozen blood worm..

[genes]

I also do not think pH alters the size of the brood. I bred apistos in africana and the brood can range from less then 10 to over 20 fries. What i experience seems to tell me that some species requires lower pH for the eggs to hatch.

[exotic_idiot]

Quote:
frozen blood worm
Till now i'm still afraid to use them... How do you normally clean them before feeding?

Quote:
Originally Posted by genes
I also do not think pH alters the size of the brood. I bred apistos in africana and the brood can range from less then 10 to over 20 fries. What i experience seems to tell me that some species requires lower pH for the eggs to hatch.
What species needs higher PH? Lower PH i think most of the apisto species need it... Maybe we can all list out those species that suits low or high PH.. From what i see cacatuoides, trifasciata, agassizii, macmasteri and vijita or locally lfs sells all quite alright with high PH.. But those intending to bring overseas better keep low PH.. Wild ones?

[taygu]

Till now i'm still afraid to use them... How do you normally clean them before feeding?

uh.. never, just use a tub huay tub fill with water and leave it in it to defrost, then feed them.

I learn from other forum that can use katapang extract to disinfect but have never try..

[genes]

Some species that fare better in lower pH water are elizabethae, uaupesi, diplotaenia, blutkehl and black-chin.

[mobile2007]

No need sterilize frozen blood worm, hikari brand got 3 step sterilization.