Apistogramma Breeding

[Second Hand Pat]

I recently received a pair of Apistogramma, Apistogramma agassizi Alenquer to be exact. I dimmed the lights over the tank as I found the female would dive for the cave I added when walking by the tank. Now with the dim light the pair are swimming all over the tank. Mainly the male is swimming after the female. I surely know what he has on his mind. I'm also pretty sure she is not ready ATM. I have had them less then a week.

Since I have not bred these fish I am not sure what to expect. Any breeders care to brief me on getting these guys to spawn and caring for the fry?

[Second Hand Pat]

OK, horrible video but it shows the state of the fish. Male says yes...female says not yet.

[Larry Bugg]

Bare bottom tanks are definitely not my preference for apistos. When she does get ready she will turn a bright yellow. Be prepared to pull the male from the tank since he really doesn't have any place to hide. The females can get pretty nasty when they have spawned and it is not unusual for a male get killed if there isn't enough cover for them. Not that much different from breeding discus. Good clean water and patience. Live food will help. What temp do you have the tank at. Too warm (high 70's) and the spawn will be heavy males. Too cool (low 70's) and the spawn will be heavy females. Most breeders shoot for the latter so they can pull trio's from the spawn.

[Second Hand Pat]

Larry, tank is currently about 80. It is actually a QT tank so why it is BB. Would another cave help? Plus I can add a thin layer of sand.
Pat

[Larry Bugg]

Yes, I would put another cave in. I breed all my apistos in planted tanks. It isn't bare bottom vs a substrate but rather bare bottom vs planted so there is something to break up the line of sight. Some driftwood or rocks would help.

[Second Hand Pat]

Will do Larry, Thanks.
Pat

[Ryan]

Like Larry said, give them more cover. A lot of cichlids, even dwarf cichlids, are notorious about turning on each other if their mate isn't cooperating. You don't want to lose either of them.

[Wes]

Pat this site is a good resource for apisto info. http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Apistogramma_agassizii.php

[Second Hand Pat]

Like Larry said, give them more cover. A lot of cichlids, even dwarf cichlids, are notorious about turning on each other if their mate isn't cooperating. You don't want to lose either of them.

Thanks Ryan

Pat this site is a good resource for apisto info. http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Apistogramma_agassizii.php

Thanks Wes, I will check that out.

[Second Hand Pat]

So make a few changes to the tank. I unclipped the IALs and laid them on the bottom to add cover and added a couple more to the clip plus added a second, larger cave. I also placed window screen under the overhead light to dim and evenly light the tank. The light I was using before lite one side causing the fish to mostly use one side of the tank.

[Second Hand Pat]

The female seems to doing the come hither with the male. You will notice some additional dither fish in the vid. There are cardinals, rummy nose and some checkerboards from John (snookn21). I suspect the checkerboards should be moved to a different tank.