WTB Smallest Apisto

[Aviant]

Im looking for the smallest recorded apistogramma to try and breed. If any of you have some, I'd definitely like to buy.

 

[Mike Wise]

The smallest know apisto is A. wapisana. Females are slightly larger than males and grow to about 1¾"/45mm total length (Neon Tetra size!). I know that they come in occasionally - about once every 5 years or so. This is probably because they are rather plain - no fancy fins or colors. The only thing they have going for them is the females being slightly larger than the males and the unusual breeding behavior (males initiate breeding instead of females). They are easy to breed. Mine spawned in the corner of a bare quarantine tank in tap water (neutral & moderately soft). Of regularly available apistos, I think A. borellii is the best option.

 

[DaRe]

Anyone seen some photos of this small Apistogramma?

Staecki is quite small as well, right?

 

[Mike Wise]

I have photos of this species on the Cichlid Room Companion web site. They are from specimens I had in 1984. The species is also pictured in most of the more comprehensive dwarf cichlid books, too.

 

[Aviant]

Thank you guys, I would most definitely love to get a hold of A. Wapisana if anyone has it available. I've seen the one you mentioned and For some reason I have this fascination with very small fish. I wouldn't mind getting a hold of different Apisto's but right now my tank is fairly small and I'd like to get something that wont eat all my shrimp lol

 

[Aviant]

If I can't get Wapisana, does anyone have any apisto's that I could buy that stay VERY small?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
The small Dario species, like D. dario and D. hysginon are similar to very small cichlids in many ways, but smaller and more obtainable. I think even they may eat your shrimplets.

cheers Darrel

 

[aquaticclarity]

I have some Apistogramma cf. staecki from Brazil for sale. Only 5 or 6 left though. $20 each and I can try to sex them but it can be tough at their current size of 3/4".

 

[DaRe]

What would you say is the main reason you want a small Apistogramma? Small tank?

 

[Aviant]

I currently have one Scarlet Badis in my 15gal tank, it was a gift from a friend. That one doesn't mess with my fire red shrimp. @DaRe , The main reason I want a small Apistogramma is because I like Cichlids but I have a very small tank and I'd like to keep a pair of extremely small ones to watch them grow and maybe even breed. I'm all new to this kind of Cichlid but Im already having fun just watching my male Blue Steel chase my Sparkling Gourami around the tank. I mainly like a fish that has a bit of aggression for it's small size. Much like the Pea Puffer or a Betta Fish. Very small but packs a punch.

 

[Aviant]

Aquaticclarity,

How big would those get in total? They look very nice from the pictures I saw on Google

 

[aquaticclarity]

Here is one of the cf. staecki that I sent out already (not my picture but it's a great shot of the actual stock): http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/apistogramma-staecki.13529/

I honestly don't know how big these guys will get as this is the first time I've had them but from everyting I've read on them they are listed as a "small growing Apistogramma". Not very helpful I understand but I'm not going to make up an answer either!

 

[Ttw]

Here is one of the cf. staecki that I sent out already (not my picture but it's a great shot of the actual stock): http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/apistogramma-staecki.13529/

I honestly don't know how big these guys will get as this is the first time I've had them but from everyting I've read on them they are listed as a "small growing Apistogramma". Not very helpful I understand but I'm not going to make up an answer either!

The A. staecki I had grew to only about 1.5" overall length.

 

[Mike Wise]

The A. staecki I had grew to only about 1.5" overall length.

SL or TL? I've never kept them, but most authors recommend keeping them in a species-only tank.

 

[Ttw]

SL or TL? I've never kept them, but most authors recommend keeping them in a species-only tank.

That was TL . I did keep them in a species tank. I think I gave them away to someone who was interested in them at the time.

 

[Aviant]

They look awesome! I realize that I should probably just get one or two female "Steel Blue"' Apisto's and see if I can breed them with my male. Whats the minimum size tank I can keep most apisto's in and they would actually breed in as well? Right now I have this baby Blue Steel in a 1.2gal tank with a sponge filter and some plants - I realize he cant live there for long, so I'd like to get some kind of tank thats very small that they can live normally in.