Re: Aggressive Apistos

[Tim Ellis <timellis@flash.net>]

Hi Lisa,

I am sorry I have so many questions, but I have only been raising these type fish
for about a month and a half. Going to be learning for awhile. I believe these
Apistos are in the Hongsloi complex, though not sure. Thats what the collector
told me.

Thanks,
Tim

Lisa Wrischnik wrote:

> Hello gang,
> >
> Tim asks, among other things:
>
> > The question is how mean do
> >these fish get durring and after spawning?
> Also,
>
> > I have moved the ram fry to a 20
> >gal low to grow in. But what about the parents? Are they in danger? Will
> >this end in death if I don't seperate them. What about other Apistos? I
> >am at a loss as what to do.
> >
>
> I think that there are definitely apisto groups that get more agressive
> than others, but it can be very pair-specific, at least in my experience.
> The meanest fish I have seen so far are spawning A. panduro, following by
> A. nijsseni. I lost a large pair of Crenicichla regani to A. panduro, and
> when I had a pair of nijsseni spawn, they could easily dominate adult
> discus in the tank with them.  Both species also seemed to really hate any
> other member of the same species also present in the tank - these were
> usually the first to go (even if there was little to no agression before
> the spawning event). I had two spawning pairs of panduro "meet" after the
> tank divider fell, and in less than 12 hours I had one gutted male, one
> male with his jaws practically ripped off, one large female with NO fins
> anywhere, and one tiny female with all the fry.
>
> The problem comes with gauging the level of agression.  In the above case
> with the panduro and the pikes, I didn't want the damn panduro to spawn, so
> I kept them in water conditions that I thought would not induce them to
> breed.  Over night I found a yellow female with eggs, and pikes with large
> chunks removed from their hides (They didn't recover, either). I was pretty
> pissed off, so I think if you have the room, the one thing that will make
> you feel better is to move the Bolivians, just in case.  I never have the
> spare tank space, though, so I have also taken plenty of chances and had it
> work out, as well.
>
> Gosh, wasn't THAT helpful..........
>
> Do you have any idea what general group your "unnamed apistos" are in i.e.
> cacatuoides complex, etc.? My advice might be a little more specific if I
> had any notion what you have.
>
> Anyway, good luck with the spawn, and I wish I could have been of more help.
> Lisa
>
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