Re: Info on A. resticulosa

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

Steph & Dave wrote:

> Hi Folks
>
> One of our LFS (sydney, aus) has some A. resticulosa for sale.  I am
> having trouble finding any information about this fish on the 'net and
> my copy of Linke & Staeck is currently on a slow boat from Amazon.com :)
>
>  can someone help me with
> the following:

Steph,

It all depends on which "A. resticulosa" you get. There have been several species
in the hobby lately (A. sp. Wangenflecken, A. sp. Blauglanz, and the real
resticulosa). The species pictured & discussed in the books of Schmettkamp,
Linke & Staeck , as well as the photo in Mayland & Bork's book are of  A. sp.
Wangenflecken, BTW. Let's assume that you do have the true resticulosa for now.

> Preferred water conditions maintenance/breeding

Mayland & Bork list the following for the Rio Xicanga, the type locality of A.
resticulosa, as follow:

pH: 5.92, Conductivity: 17µS, Hardness: <1ºdGH & 0.31 dKH

> Sociability - they would initially have to go into a 4ft community with
> bristlenose/small (1 and a half inch) angels/black neons/ zebra danios/
> lone female borelli

This isn't a very large apisto, growing to about 6 or 7 cm (<3") and hasn't
bothered other fish in my experience.

> Breeding patterns - harem or pair, aggresiveness etc

Being a regani-group fish, it is a casually monogamous/opportunistically
polygamous species. This means that the male doesn't put a lot of energy into
defending a large territory. They seem satisfied with a single female (my male
would drive my lone female crazy, at times, with his courting) but probably would
be happy to service several females.

> Any personal experiences, difficulty - given my limited experience and
> luck with Apisto's Im not prepared to try anything other than an 'easy'
> fish.

They should be a "moderately easy" fish to breed at a pH <6.5 and moderately soft
water (dGH<3; dKH<2). I know Ade Lau, Laramie Wyoming, has been successful with
them in the same water conditions that he keeps his Discus.

> Is this a common fish in other parts of the world,

Not common, but not rare either.

> is 30US an outrageous
> price to pay for a pair?

I got mine directly from Marco Lacerda at the Chicago ACA convention in 1997. If
I remember correctly they were US$10 each, but shipping & other costs will affect
their final retail price. Only you can decide if AUS$50 is unreasonable or not,
but it's close to what mine sold for.  Hope this helps.

Mike Wise

> TIA
>
> Steph
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
> For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
> email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
> Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!





-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!