A. steindachneri, a displaying male.
If you want to rear a large number,
it might be better to transfer them to
a separate tank after about a month.
Frequent partial water changes should
also be performed, preferably twice a day,
combined with vacuuming the substrate,
or large fry losses can occur. You will be
able to identify the males after four to five
months of intensive feeding, and in a few
more months the females will take on
their adult characteristics.
The use of coconut shells with small
openings in the reproduction of the
Apistogramma is very practical because
you can easily turn the shell over and
block the opening (with your thumb,
for instance), and the female, together
with her eggs, can be easily transferred
to a separate tank. Remember that the
physical and chemical parameters of the
water in the breeding tank should be the
same as it is in the community aquarium.
A female A. steindachneri enters the breeding cave.
When you finally have fry, it is advisable
to place a large clump of Java moss
beside the coconut shell so the growing
youngsters will find microorganisms,
including algae, to supplement their diet
in the first weeks of their life.
A female caring for her eggs.
A Great
Dwarf Cichlid
This species can often be found in the
aquaria of hobbyists who are beginning
their Apistogramma adventure, and there
are a number of reasons for that. This
dwarf cichlid is forgiving of beginners’
mistakes and will easily breed in the
artificial environment of the aquarium,
making it the perfect species for the
inexperienced. The fish’s size is also an
asset, as it allows the species to be kept
with much bigger fish. D
72
www.tfhmagazine.com
October 2010
