Do Cacs. make good parent raisers or not?

[nightowl1350]

I just picked up a pair of apisto C. at a local auction....got 3 last year and only 1 survived, but they were very young.. This time I got a male and female that seem to be showing signs of pre spawning. If put in a tank of their own will they make good parents? Or like angels and rams do they often eat eggs or fry?

 

[mooman]

I would say that all apistos make much better parents than Angels, and rams. Whether there is a genetic basis for this, or it is a result of apistos being bred in a more natural manner (ei being allowed to raise the fry for a period of time before removal), I have no idea. Apistos are rather short lived (one or two seasons) in the wild, so I imagine that there is added selective pressure to "get it right the first time". I've read that cacatuoides are even shorter lived than most apistos. This might explain why every time i have spawned them, they've mannaged to bring fry to the free swimming stage the first time. So to answer your question, yes cacs make very good parents.
Even the most male cacs I've had try to get in on the parenting gig (albeit in an akward and somewhat bumbling way).

I would suggest that if the tank is small (under 30in) that you add some pencil or hatchet fish (known as dither or target fish). This will give the male something to focus his attention on other than the fry. There is always the possibility with apistos that the female will not tolerate interference by the male and will kill him quickly if he can't get away (10g tanks). Watch for signs of this aggression and be ready to remove him is the relationship goes south.

 

[stormydax]

Dear Mooman,
hi , i am new to this forum. However, i hear that caca are rather long lived fishes. They can stay alive for as long as 3 - 4 years. Do correct me if i am wrong.

thanks

sincerely yours,
Storm

 

[nightowl1350]

3-4 isn't very long if you compare that to angels, plecos or many other fish that live 10+ years, but I hope my apistos live 3-4

 

[stormydax]

hi all,
i currently purchased a pair of young caca orange flash...its finnage colour is very constant. However, i am suspecting that both are male due to the size and the beautiful finnage and colour both portrays.

May the expert enlighten me on how i can better differentiate between a male and female orange caca orange flash?

thanks

yours sincerely,
Storm