FoundMoney
Fish Crazy
Today I went to the lfs to get replacement cockatoos for the ones that died on Tuesday. When I got to the store the fish had come in as I was told but there were no cockatoos. Instead, the store owner almost insisted that I take a pair of agassizi. Now, of course I could have said no and I told him that I was aprehensive, but he told me he thought the agassizi was a better fish and was more confident in the stock. There was no charge for a pair anyway so I gave in to his "reasoning".
Now, the fish are beautiful and I would normally have no regrets about keeping them. I do have a few concerns however. As far as I know these fish are more sensitive to water conditions than cockatoos so if I had trouble keeping the cockatoos what's going to happen with the agassizis?
Also, immediately when I put the fish in the tank, the female hid. She also seemed to have some trouble swimming or more appropriately I should say she swam in an unusual way. She was able to swim very quickly sideways. I wasn't sure if she was having trouble or this was her preference. The male stayed in open water and my female cockatoo immediately started harrassing him. I'm not familiar with spawing behavior so it is possible she was trying to mate (which is impossible, right?). But it looked more like aggressive behavior than mating. I'm just a little worried she might bully him causing him to stress out.
My final concern is regarding the female cockatoo. In a 30 gallon tank I would imagine that having two species of apistogramma is not ideal. That means the poor female cockatoo is destined to be an old maid. Would it be so terrible if I were to get another male cockatoo or is that just asking for trouble? When I asked the store owner he said there was plenty of room in the tank, but from all I've read and from what most people here say, I would be reluctant to have a piar of cockatoos and a pair of agassizi in the same tank.
Now, the fish are beautiful and I would normally have no regrets about keeping them. I do have a few concerns however. As far as I know these fish are more sensitive to water conditions than cockatoos so if I had trouble keeping the cockatoos what's going to happen with the agassizis?
Also, immediately when I put the fish in the tank, the female hid. She also seemed to have some trouble swimming or more appropriately I should say she swam in an unusual way. She was able to swim very quickly sideways. I wasn't sure if she was having trouble or this was her preference. The male stayed in open water and my female cockatoo immediately started harrassing him. I'm not familiar with spawing behavior so it is possible she was trying to mate (which is impossible, right?). But it looked more like aggressive behavior than mating. I'm just a little worried she might bully him causing him to stress out.
My final concern is regarding the female cockatoo. In a 30 gallon tank I would imagine that having two species of apistogramma is not ideal. That means the poor female cockatoo is destined to be an old maid. Would it be so terrible if I were to get another male cockatoo or is that just asking for trouble? When I asked the store owner he said there was plenty of room in the tank, but from all I've read and from what most people here say, I would be reluctant to have a piar of cockatoos and a pair of agassizi in the same tank.
I know you've heard the whole m/f ratio , but with other apistos in the tank 1 to 1 may work well for you .
