Ok. So I'm a total apisto-newbie. Just got back into aquariums a couple of months ago. Initially thought I would just do some random community-stuff with my kids, but couldn't resist getting some Apistos (have dremad about it on/off for years).
Tank: 70 Gallon. Water: ph ~8. GH = 11. Nh4=0, NO2=0, NO3 ~ 5. Population 15 cardinals, 20 ember, tetras 8 Corydas.
I got a pair of Orange Flash cacatuoides. A good beginner choice I thought, though I didnt really fance the "un-natural" looking colors. Later added a pair of agassiziis - had some concerns but my LFS said iy would be fine.
The female cacatuoides started behaving weirdly - "resting at the bottom". Then died, while I was on a weekend. Bought a new one (double red I think). Everything was moving along nicely. Did a rescaping, which - in hindsight - was more aesteically pleasing, but didnt do anything good for my fish's territorial nature. The famale agassizi was clearly drawing the short straw, and died (stress?). Next in line was the female cac. So I quickly rescaped again - making differnt "zones". And bought a new 30 Gallon tank - that I'm giong to setup this week. I'm done with multiple species of Apistogrammas in the same tank!
But... my female cac is looking weird - bloated. Is it the stress? Are my LFS not a good source of fish? Any advice appreciated. Images of the current apistos below.
Tank: 70 Gallon. Water: ph ~8. GH = 11. Nh4=0, NO2=0, NO3 ~ 5. Population 15 cardinals, 20 ember, tetras 8 Corydas.
I got a pair of Orange Flash cacatuoides. A good beginner choice I thought, though I didnt really fance the "un-natural" looking colors. Later added a pair of agassiziis - had some concerns but my LFS said iy would be fine.
The female cacatuoides started behaving weirdly - "resting at the bottom". Then died, while I was on a weekend. Bought a new one (double red I think). Everything was moving along nicely. Did a rescaping, which - in hindsight - was more aesteically pleasing, but didnt do anything good for my fish's territorial nature. The famale agassizi was clearly drawing the short straw, and died (stress?). Next in line was the female cac. So I quickly rescaped again - making differnt "zones". And bought a new 30 Gallon tank - that I'm giong to setup this week. I'm done with multiple species of Apistogrammas in the same tank!
But... my female cac is looking weird - bloated. Is it the stress? Are my LFS not a good source of fish? Any advice appreciated. Images of the current apistos below.