Need Some Tips On Breeding Apistogramma Cacatuoides

[Dan-CR4]

I got one male and one female Apistogramma Cacatuoides in my community tank and I am thinking of moving them into my 80 litre spare tank and getting acouple more females. Can anyone who has bred these fish give me some good pointers or where theres a good link on breeding them. never bred fish before but would love to breed these if I can.

 

[ApistoNut]

I have many tips for you, ask away....... I have raised cacatuoides and alcarinas in community tanks and on there own.

 

[ApistoNut]

Ok il just fire away:

* you need a light substrate such as sand
* you need alot of caves and leaf litter for the females to hide
* i would just stick to the pair for the moment to experiment
* bring the ph level down to around 6-7
* keep them fed with high protein foods such as brine shrimp
(try to stay clear from bloodworms as there hard to digest)
* they may need a few goes to get it right so be patient when fry appear
* just basically keep them clean and healthy and you should be fine
* time will tell if they will get it on!!!!

 

[mishmash]

Ok il just fire away:

* you need a light substrate such as sand

Light as in light colour or as in grain size ?

 

[ApistoNut]

grain size sorry they like to make a wall of sand in front there caves to guard the eggs

 

[Dan-CR4]

Ok il just fire away:

* you need a light substrate such as sand
* you need alot of caves and leaf litter for the females to hide
* i would just stick to the pair for the moment to experiment
* bring the ph level down to around 6-7
* keep them fed with high protein foods such as brine shrimp
(try to stay clear from bloodworms as there hard to digest)
* they may need a few goes to get it right so be patient when fry appear
* just basically keep them clean and healthy and you should be fine
* time will tell if they will get it on!!!!

thanks for the info, bringing the ph down, whats the best way, is it mix ro water with my tap water or use peat balls.

 

[ApistoNut]

use alder cones you can buy them on ebay or simply find a tree and "collect" them, whatfish do you have in your community tank?

 

[mishmash]

grain size sorry they like to make a wall of sand in front there caves to guard the eggs

Cool, as I am thinking to get some Estes' Marine black sand (i am hoping the grain size is 1 to 2mm but if its less than 1mm do you think that I would still be successful growing plants too ?). This sand, although marine, will not affect pH. Which leads me to my question below...

use alder cones you can buy them on ebay or simply find a tree and "collect" them, whatfish do you have in your community tank?

Do you have any pics of what alder cones should look like ? I could look it up on google but if you could send me a link it would put my mind at rest that I am looking for the right thing (Or I could just buy them from Ebay but I kinda like the idea of finding my own. How should I treat them to make them safe ?).

Cheers

 

[ApistoNut]

They naaturally fall in the water in the wild so I wouldntt bother treating them, and as for sand ever heard of argos play sand 2.99 its cheap and effective. Just give it a good wash out aand fill up your tank. Don't really know how to send links so... Just google it they usually grow around water usually lakes get as many as you can because they arnt cheap on ebay

 

[mishmash]

They naaturally fall in the water in the wild so I wouldntt bother treating them, and as for sand ever heard of argos play sand 2.99 its cheap and effective. Just give it a good wash out aand fill up your tank. Don't really know how to send links so... Just google it they usually grow around water usually lakes get as many as you can because they arnt cheap on ebay

Hi L&C thanks, yeah im aware of the argos play sand. only reason i have not gone for it is that its so light in colour tone. I always thought you got the best colours from fish with a darker substrate ? Also, whats it like in terms of using in a proper planted tank ? Do you not get problems with compaction ?

Thanks.

 

[ApistoNut]

Its not allways the case having lighter substrate bringing out less colours mine have coloured up well since using the sand and about planting I used a layer of gravel first to plant and then sand over the top I think this has made it easier for my plants to grow. I'm not to sure about the compaction because atm I have 2 medium sized plecs that like to like to move it all about a bit

 

[BigbruiserAl]

substrate is is not a major problem for cacs, bare bottom, sand and gravel they are fine with all, dont over think it

EDIT: I do not recommend a harem in a 80L the females will fight to the death

 

[Dan-CR4]

thanks everyone, I am goona go ahead with the 2 I got and see if they get it on, might play them some barry white music for them to get in the mood

wont be yet though, will do it when my tank from ND aquatics arrive in jan/feb, as chasing the fish around my tank with plants is just too much, so will sperate them to their own tank when I change all my other fish over to the new NDA tank.

 

[mishmash]

substrate is is not a major problem for cacs, bare bottom, sand and gravel they are fine with all, dont over think it

EDIT: I do not recommend a harem in a 80L the females will fight to the death

Cheers BBA... as always I am worrying too much. I think I am getting to the stage that I will just decide to get on with it and do what I like the look of the most.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Adding lots of stuff at once can be harder resolve problem in the long run. If something does not work fine just change one thing at a time

I did have a problem with one pair, they had breeding colours, cold water changes low ph etc but they could not just seem to clinch the deal, added some dither fish(10 neons) and boom another 20 fry lol