Hello guest! Are you an Apistogramma enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Apisto enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your fish and tanks and have a great time with other Apisto enthusiasts. Sign up today!
Well, the tank is big enough for all apistos. What is your water like (GH, KH, pH)? This may limit the species selection somewhat. Otherwise it may depend on what is locally available or can be shipped easily. Where are you based?
The elizabethae will require really soft and acidic water to do well, especially if you want to breed them. The trifasciata are less demanding, they readily bred for me in water with 250uS and pH 6
Depending on the layout of the decorations and shelters in the tank you could try two females and a male but a single pair would probably be the safer option.
With the choice of dithers/target fish you will have to make sure they aren't eating the fry. Most pencil fish are a safe option, most tetras aren't. Green neon tetras seem to work if you want tetras. Catfish in general won't be good.
Hi all,
"Was thinking of going open top so hatchets may be out" I think Hatchets are definitely out (of the tank that is). All the Pencil fish I've kept have tended to jump as well. Often the fish are fine until they start spawning, and then sub-dominant males and un-receptive females are at particular risk.
Hi all,
"Thinking trifasciata then would a pair and some dithers be ok or should I go a trio." With trifasciata I would get as many females as you have room for, as the males are strongly polygamous and really harass un-receptive females. Also if you have fry the males fight with each other from quite a young age, so you need more space to grow them out, even though they are a small Apistogramma species.