Re: A. biteiniata dilema

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

A. bitaeniata probably will cross with A. aggassizii. Many hobbyists believe this
is the cross that produced the A. sp. Orangeflossen/Orange-fins form in the early
1980s. I doubt that you will get this hybrid because the bitaeniata female will
breed with your bitaeniata male if given the choice - which she has. Remember, it
is the female that initiates the breeding process and chooses her spawning
partner. The female will choose her own species' male over the dominant male.
(Your aggie male may be the dominant male in the tank but he doesn't seem to own
the entire tank. If he did, you wouldn't have any other males survive in it.) If
by some chance the female did spawn with the aggie male I would expect that very
few would survive to adults and if they did you would know they were hybrids by
just looking at them.

Based on my experience with breeding A. bitaenata I would remove both males and
leave the female alone with her brood. I would also leave a small night light (7W
bulb) on above the tank at night for a couple of weeks. It is my experience that
an A. bitaeniata female will eat her eggs/fry more often than most apistos when
"spooked". The night light seems to keep her more aware of what's happening
around her.

Mike Wise

J Miller wrote:

>   Well, my female A. biteiniata has disappeared, and the last time I
> saw her (late on the 1st), she was pretty yellow.  I am sure she is
> holed away in a pot, or under one of the two driftwood pieces I have in
> the tank.  My problem is, which male did she spawn with?
>   I have one male biteiniata, but he isn't the dominant male in the
> tank, an A. agasizzi type is.  Would these two different species spawn
> together?  If fry do come out of this, what are the chances that they
> aren't hybrids.  Should I destroy the batch anyway?  I should probalby
> remove the agasizzi, shouln't I.
>
> Thanks for your advice.
>
> =====
> J. Miller
> Edmonton, AB, Can.
>
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