New Apisto tank

[chris1805]

Hey Guys!

Due to the fact i am moving soon i will probably have to leave behind my 60x40x60cm tank and i will only have my 60x30x36cm tank. The 60x30x36cm is currently empty and needs to be setup again. Now i am stuck with the following problems.

I currently own two shoals a shoal of 10 nannostomus eques and a shoal of 8 neon tetra stimulans.
Currently i do not have an pair of Apistogramma but i am definetly planning to get one. The 60x30x36cm tank will be to small to take both shoals with me, and now i am kinda left with the question, what would be better to go along with the Apisto's in this size of a tank. I am loving the eques but i am affraid that ones the Apisto pairs has eggs (the tank is supposed to be a community tank, but we all know when we get our community tank right, your apisto's start breeding), they will become real targets. So now i am wondering what do you guys think about this, what shoal should i pick?

My second problem is, what pair of Apisto's should i go for? I was in love with my previous pair of Apistogramma ortegai, which i am tanking about getting again. I also love the Apistogramma atahualpa, or go for a pair of Apistogramma biteniata "shushupe" , Apistogramma agassizii "manicore" or "tefe" and lastly the Apistogramma Cacatuoides (rio Nanany). All the species listed are wild ones.

Below i placed a little video about how i would like to decorate the tank. All the credits for the video go to the owner of the video ofcourse

Thanks in advantage!

 

[Mike Wise]

Have you thought of getting one or two male apistos of different species and shapes? No breeding problems.

 

[chris1805]

I have but my preference would go out to getting a pair. What pair do you think would be suitable of the ones i listed? Trifisciata or Elisabetta are also an option i am thinking about.

 

[Mike Wise]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your reasoning. You don't want a breeding pair to "make real targets" of your pencilfish, but still want a pair that probably will breed and target other fish in the tank. My mantra: A community tank is not a breedin tank. You have to choose which you want or accept the consequences.

 

[chris1805]

Eventhough i don't want them to breed, to see their interaction is nice to watch. But you are right i am being contradicting.