Cockatoo Apistogramma...one or two?

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Assume the water parameters are appropriate...
I have a well planted 20 (UK) gallon tank and have been considering an Apisto...or two.
To those of you who have kept these dwarf cichlids, are they happy enough on their own, or would two be better?
Two males might scrap.
A male and a female might pair up and get jiggy with it, or the male might harrass the female. It's not my intention to breed, but I do know that these things happen.

I've got half a dozen each of Black Neons, Glowlights and Golden Pencils in the tank. Pygmy corydoras will be joining the gang, (probably).

I was originally thinking Rams, 'cos I'm familiar with these and even had them successfully breed in a community tank, long ago, but someone pulled a face and suggested Apistogramma sp., for some characterful colour.

Thoughts?

 

[Colin_T]

i always try to keep them in prs (1 male & 1 female) so they breed.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

i always try to keep them in prs (1 male & 1 female) so they breed.

How much hassle is the female subjected to?

 

[Colin_T]

I have never had a problem with males bullying females but I used to try and buy fish that had already paired up. If I couldn't do that, I bought a group and let them pr off, then separated the prs.

 

[kribensis12]

I would recommend a male and female, or a male and multiple females if you have enough caves. Additionally, they are a social species and putting one on it's own would not be good for it. They live in high population densities in the wild.

The males are not typically aggressive towards the female; with my cockatoos I actually have experienced the female being aggressive towards the male because she was ready to breed and he was not picking up the hint. When they do breed, they are excellent parents but should not likely disturb the other fish too much.

 

[Byron]

Corydoras pygmaeus is mentioned as a possible addition later...I would be careful here. Apistogramma are substrate level fish, and can get quite protective when guarding eggs or fry. Normal sized Corydoras are not likely to be bothered by the regular poking, shoving and whatever, but the pygmies might.