Help on mixing Apistos!!!!!

[fishfanatic33]

Can you mix different types of Apistos in the same tank? My dwarf cichlid books say you can,but some advice I have been given doesn't agree. The fish would be in a 100g so there would be plenty of room. Wadaya think?

[jbeining75]

In a hundred gallon you could probably pair up quite a few types.. The most important thing is to have enough establishable territory... Create a territory big enough for each group and introduce in groups or 6-8 apistos.... wait 2-3 weeks then introduce another 6-8 group...

[fishfanatic33]

70 Cardinal tetras
70 Green fire tetras
40 Rummynose tetras
1 gold nugget pleco
2 clown plecos
?2 flash plecos?(depending on cost and if I can find them)

This next part is still under thought

2 aequidens curviceps M/F
2 aequidens dorsiger M/F
4 apisto. borelli 1M/3F
2 or 4 bolivian rams
4 apisto agissizii 1M/3F

Is this a good dwarf selection? And can I do any more?

and a school of corys(whats a good number?)


Is that to many fish? I tried to go off the numbers Dave gave me. I went with less tetras so I can have a school of Corys and some more dwarfs.

[Pickles]

Different groups of different Apisto species?

Am I losing it? Well, it was like 7-8 years ago, but I could swear I was told not to mix Apistos as they will interbreed and you'll get varients which is not wanted in the fancy.

David Soares was here in town. He gave me three. Said it was okay to keep them with my two Pelvees but not to keep them with other Apistos.

I'm not saying they wouldn't be compatible; actually the opposite! LOL!

But in the last eight or so years, maybe Apisto breeders have relaxed their standards. <shrugs shoulders>

[Pickles]

I would kill to see a school of 70 Cardinal Tetras. That has to be stunning.

[jbeining75]

Maybe 6 cories like panda cories... I'd leave the bolivians alone... Go with the other groups. 1 male to 2 female (3ea.) 4 species apistos...

[Pickles]

Check this out:

http://www.thekrib.com/Apisto/interbreeding.html

Just to muddy the waters more!

Uwe is/was a partner of David Soares.

[Pickles]

Fishfanatic, those agissizii are the very ones that have been documentd interbreeding.

I'm butting my nose out now. To me it's a question of ethics at this point. I really think there's no harm in keeping different Apistos together as long as you never ever plan on selling/giving them away. But who knows what lies down the road for you and whatever fry you may or may not have?

I've just got a thing about hybrids and hobby-made varients. I want to know when I'm getting a so-and-so species, that's what I'm getting and don't want to have to worry about mixed species.

Getting off soapbox now and butting out.

[cocoa_pleco]

I would kill to see a school of 70 Cardinal Tetras. That has to be stunning.

once i saw a school of 500, it was INSANE, and in a 350g planted tank

[Pickles]

Lucky dog, cocoa. How'd you ever tear yourself away? I can't even imagine the sight. It must have been gorgeous.

P.S. I *didn't* say I wouldn't lurk! Just said I'd keep my nose outta things! LOL!