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I only have a small tank for breeding, 29 gal.
Just platys and guppies at the moment, with 2 small BN plecos, very understocked.

Heavily stocked on the plants (14 types)

I want to breed a couple types of fish if that's possible, but space is limited. ph in tank is 7.5.. There are a couple growout tanks up north I can set up there as bare tanks..

I could also swap my 29 for my 30 long, or buy a 40 gal breeder (I think 36Lx18Wx15H)

I'd like one or two types of the following is it possible ?

Apistos
Lace Gourami
Sparkling Gourami
German Blue Rams
(maybe bolivian rams)


Do you see any of these on the list compatible with apistos ?

Thanks

The Amazon Nut...

It would be very cool to breed Rams.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Thanks Jason, I think dwarf cichlid breeding will be interesting and challenging for me. Getting a male and 3 females next Sunday (German Blue Rams, domestic bred) told they are great quality and approaching breeding age. (as well as a bit of E tenellus, wahoo !)

The Apistos I have decided on is either A Cacuitoides.
My main focus will be on these, if the german blues breed, that's just a bonus. But mainly I think their color is awesome. I need to examine and make changes in my tank setups etc.. Will post more shortly. Both these types fish are new to me, as well as trying to breed egg layers. Have to get the laundry started LOL. I have lots of questions.

The Amazon Nut...

Ok, wanted to start off with 'easy' apisto.
Have decided on A. cacatuoides, or A. agassizii
So I'll have one pair apistos and one pair rams with 2 extra rams. Unless it's recommended for the Apistos, to get a harem instead of a pair.

Current setup
29 gal, heavily planted, guppies and platys, clown loach (temporary, to get rid of ramshorn snails) unknown small loach (stays in gravel), Malaysian Trumpet Snails, Aquaclear 300 filter, 2 sponges, no carbon. (sometimes put sponge piece in intake, which I will do if I get fry)
7 amano shrimp - I hear these guys are adept at stealing eggs as well as catching fry.. should I sell them ?

10 gal - 8 red cherry shrimp, java ferns, java moss, sagitteria. 5 gal hex - paradise gourami.

I want to pull this off without adding new tanks, (limited room) but will upgrade.. This means possibly selling the red cherry shrimp. (rams will eat them ?, apistos kill them ?)

I want to upgrade my main tank to a 30 long (already have)
or get a 40 gal breeder 36Lx18Wx15H.

And maybe replace the 10 gal with a 15g (24x12x12)

Just obtained 60 pounds of flourite too

I'm kinda stuck with all the options here. Should I keep the rams and apistos in the community then remove fish showing breeding signs to the 10 ? Keep the 10 bare with exception of java moss, driftwood and some terra cotta pots and maybe guppies to keep it cycled ? Or fully plant the smaller tank also and put the apistos in there ?





The Amazon Nut...

gourami's would be cool since you can really watch them breed at the top of the tank!/:'

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

Yes I have to admit I like gouramis, had an opaline and a gold before.. Sparkling gouramis are very small but brilliantly colored fish, Lace/Pearl gouramis also nice..
I may try them later, I think I'm going to give SA cichlids a try first..Tank space here is limited, or I'd have them all !

The Amazon Nut...

I would not mix the apistos and rams as they occupy the same niche.

Add lots of small pots for the apistos. They love a planted tank, but will do fine in a bare bottom fitted with numerous pots plus java fern and anubais anchored to hardscape. In the wild, cacatoiudes males maintain a harem over a territory.

I was too chicken to risk placing any of my shrimp with the dwarf cichlids, though I did have cacatuioides juvies with ammano shrimp and they did fine. (The cacs were maybe 3/4 inch long when introduced to the tank.) I would not risk placing tiny fry with shrimp.

I agree Heaven2, keeping the rams and apistos separate.
I found a nice young pair of Apistogramma agassizii 'reds' on Sunday, so far so good in the 10 gal. The female and male seem to get along well The rams I'll be getting in a week or too, once I swap out my 29 for the 40 breeder I bought Friday used.. Lotsa work to do !

There's a few small pots in there now but filled with gravel (plants in there lol) they can kinda hide in the rim or around the bases.. Fixing up more shortly, right now want to leave fairly undisturbed, except to feed. Lotsa Java fern babies too and they like them it seems
Red cherry shrimp sharing the tank and neither seem to stress the other out.. This won't be a permanent arrangement.. Just a for now thing.



The Amazon Nut...