Hi guys. I need some input from you. I have a 1200L tank. i would like to know which dwarfies would live together in relative harmony.
By Dwarfies, do you mean Dwarf Cichlids? If so, Then it all really depends on your aqua acaping? If you have dense plants and lots of wood with lots of nooks and Krannies, with definate areas that could be taken as territory, then you should be able to house a good few pair. What are the actual dimensions of the tank? I would consider the likes of Apistogramma Cacatuoides, Bitaeniata, Agassizii and Borelli with maybe some Dicrosis sp. (although dicrosis sp. tend to prefer being in a species tank). Avoid more aggresive types like Ap. Sp. Steel Blues as they will kill all other dwarfs if they see them in their territory. Rams are also a possibilty, but that may rule out many other occupants due to water requirements? What other fish do you intend to keep in there? This may affect Dwarf choice? Cheers G!
Big tank....Hmmnnn Dwarfies - as you put it - could mean a coupla things...Apisto's , Krebensis etc... Yeah sure,that size tank could acomodate a good couple of Kribs pairs without to much war - the Apistos on the other hand wont be so easy....realy depends from species to species...Trick is gonna be HEAVY planting with lotsa nooks and crannies - keeping the line of sight realy short... Had a 8 foot a coupla years back that had 2 resident pairs of Wildcaught Kribs,one pair of Bolivian Rams and 2 pairs of Apistograma cacutoides in it.... Cant say that it was a "peacefull" co - existance,but it worked in the end.... Lotsa rockwork,even more planting - that was the key... Lost more than a couple before the pairs settled into the bunch I mentioned... Good luck!
The tank is 2.5Lx0.6Wx0.8H(meters). Lots of rock, wood, and the plants is getting there, growing fast. I like the rams.....already have 6 in there but would like others tipes aswell. I started the PH below 6 but over time up it to 6.5. Rams seems to do well, there colours is great and they eat well. I UP the ph to be able to add new/other dwarfs. What can i house with that ph.? ---------- Post added at 15:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:11 ---------- Thanks Azurekoi. Like Big g also mentioned, seems that hiding place is a big factor. I shall make more then.
Other fish is not really important to me for this set-up Big-G. First the Dwarfs then the rest must fit in with them, not the other way around.
Apistos will kill each other . . . . The ratio for a 4 foot tank is 1M:3F . . . If you want "More" apistos . . . like 20 . . you will find most dead when they start to breed or establishing the hierarchy. Another thing would be . . .Where are you going to find so many apistos? If you're going Dwarf . . .go with rams . . easy to find and they burst with colour . . Apistos do best in pairs though. Simple 2ft setup for each pair will suffice. There's always tanganyikan dwarfs like the shell dwellers/shell breeders that you can keep with a plant-less setup. But that's no fun . . You might get away with apistos if you have 3 males and 6 females and if you have the entire surface area of the tank planted Densely. This would then call for specialist lighting and pressurized CO2 and LOTS of caves. TM
Yer, you can't have too many of the same apisto, but say 3 or 4 pairs (or 1m 2f groups) of differing Apisto's in that size tank should be ok. Just use google and check the types you want to mix to make sure none are too agressive. All Apisto's get aggressive when breeding, so you may well loose the odd one here and there, but should be good for the best part? I would probably put 3 different pairs in, and then as stated above put in some Dicrossis Maculatis or Filementosis in a small group of 6-8. As for other occupants, Cardinals and Ember tetras spring to mind. A good sized shoal of these would look awesome! Some Pygmy Cories should work well too, and not cause too much upset for the Apistos. Just use small plantpots cut in half as caves for the Apisto's, and make sure none are in sight of the others or there will be trouble. Some people claim you have to have fish from the same Biotope in the same tank, but I would also look into getting some sparkling gourami's in the tank too. Or even some Badis Sp. in there (although they also like caves). Just adds a bit of interest. Just make sure they all like the same or at least very similar water parameters! Most Apisto's are happy with lower pH from between 5 and 6.8 depending on species? There are some that like it beyond those extremes too. At the end of the day though, its entirely up to you? We can suggest alsorts, but you have to like whats in there, as you have to look at them! Hope that helps? Cheers G!
