Apistogramma Cacatuoides Breeding

Hello,

We have 6 Apistogramma Cacatuoides (dr) fry in our fishroom from a spawn from a trio setup in April. Only one female successfully spawned, as she was more pronounced than the other i think thats why...

We lost over 40 between trial and error and female going into a feeding frenzy when we moved her and 50+ in a separate tank after a week of them being in a community tank...bad move, big lesson learned, should have just removed fry to grow out tank...
She was incredibly good at caring for them and defending them. Exciting, unexpected and rewarding for sure. Lol

We sold the male to a local fishkeeper mostly dedicated to planted tanks, looking for a showcase fish, along with the other female.

They are approaching 20 weeks, so color is very nice, and there may be 1 sleeper male in the bunch lol.

However we split them up, choosing best female/dominant male for separate tank, and the other 4 (2-3F and 1 now dominant male) in a temp 10 for sale/trade.

We have the double red female that spawned this batch, in a community tank with a triple red male. They have spawned once but not fertilized...now it appears they have again, as the territorial defense mode is high, taking turns guarding etc...may or may not have been fertilized but they are borderline relentless so lol. Especially female, crazy protective.

Should we or should we not interbreed the pair from the first spawn? I understand some of the obvious negatives, but is there a generational limit?

With the introduction of the triple red male, and the spawn from them (5mos grow out) does this add fresh genetics???

Then try to pair this new offspring with the first??

Should we add 1-2 females from another source?



Thanks, and sorry a-boot the rant lol

 

I have been told that it's alright for about 5-6 gen. but I dont go over three. I have a adult female Hongsloi in [was temp.] with five month old fry from her sister, the dominant male fry breed with her and now have fry from a 1" male, nature will find a way.
If there guarding there cave then more than likely there's eggs, has she started to turn yellow yet?

 

I have been told that it's alright for about 5-6 gen. but I dont go over three. I have a adult female Hongsloi in [was temp.] with five month old fry from her sister, the dominant male fry breed with her and now have fry from a 1" male, nature will find a way.
If there guarding there cave then more than likely there's eggs, has she started to turn yellow yet?

Thanks for another quick reply!

Yes, the infamous yellow dress is on lol.

Ok, so maybe just one spawn with the fry pair we have. Wait/grow out new fry from triple male/mom, then spawn trip/double with the doublered fry....sorry, I think I just confused myself haha.

Pair new fry from triple red male and double red female, with fry from her and other male...

I'm just wondering if its same female, it probably ups the chances of defects etc?

 

I have a pair that are brother sister but i also purchased two females from another source to help with genetic diversity. I intend to buy some other females from a third source in a year or two for the same reason. Btw my female spawned pretty much as soon as she reached maturity in a community tank without any special conditioning. It has been a week or so that i've seen the fry free swimming but it remains to be seen if they will survive (I can't feed them because they are in a location i can't easily reach). The second female recently coloured up so i think she will breed soon. Remember that these fishes like harem - you just need enough space that all the females can find their own little territory.

 

I have a pair that are brother sister but i also purchased two females from another source to help with genetic diversity. I intend to buy some other females from a third source in a year or two for the same reason. Btw my female spawned pretty much as soon as she reached maturity in a community tank without any special conditioning. It has been a week or so that i've seen the fry free swimming but it remains to be seen if they will survive (I can't feed them because they are in a location i can't easily reach). The second female recently coloured up so i think she will breed soon. Remember that these fishes like harem - you just need enough space that all the females can find their own little territory.

View attachment 727581

Thanks for reply,

Oh cool, yeah they are quite easy to get to spawn, I find a trio 1m/2f in a 55g is max. As in the 55g both females took a side of tank, occasionally meeting in middle...maybe a wider tank like a 40gb would work best for 3f/1m.

Yeah, so I am confident enough to say I am now very familiar with Cacatuoides behavior, spawning requirements etc

The genetic side of things though, does rack my brain lol. Yeah that sounds reasonable to introduce new females and keep good male. Although, if its same male genetics, that can't be good either.


Awesome Cacatuoides btw

Have a good 1

 

I have a pair that are brother sister but i also purchased two females from another source to help with genetic diversity. I intend to buy some other females from a third source in a year or two for the same reason. Btw my female spawned pretty much as soon as she reached maturity in a community tank without any special conditioning. It has been a week or so that i've seen the fry free swimming but it remains to be seen if they will survive (I can't feed them because they are in a location i can't easily reach). The second female recently coloured up so i think she will breed soon. Remember that these fishes like harem - you just need enough space that all the females can find their own little territory.

View attachment 727581

I found just upping regular feeding to mom, and she will disperse to fry. Some say after 3-4 weeks she will loose interest, but if they are only fish in tank fry will already know where to go.

Hikari first bites worked well for us

 

Very hard to feed mom for the same reason as the fry (that is the very back of the tank against the glass). Tank is community with nannacara, kribs, and lots of fishes at the top. Still there are lots of hiding places for frys (like under the driftwood shown in the picture). I have been trying to drop a little food in the back for mom but current will prevent any explicit baby food from reaching that area.

I found just upping regular feeding to mom, and she will disperse to fry. Some say after 3-4 weeks she will loose interest, but if they are only fish in tank fry will already know where to go.

Hikari first bites worked well for us

 

Can you get a turkey baster down in there? I always feed my bottom dwellers with them. I can get food, right down in a hole in a fake log in the back of the tank so I can be sure my Kuhli's get snacks. I'm not worried about them finding food out in the rest of the tank, but my Keyholes don't leave any bloodworms or brine shrimp when I feed them, and they've gotten too big to get into that log.

 

I tried a long eye dropper but can try the turkey blaster. What I did was mix some hiraki first bite in water for the eye dropper - will be more difficult with the turkey but yea that might work better - tank is a 40B so about 14 inches to bottom.

 

I have taken a turkey baster and shoved the end of a piece of airline tubing to extend the reach, now I use the same concept but use a large syringe, work great.

 

Very hard to feed mom for the same reason as the fry (that is the very back of the tank against the glass). Tank is community with nannacara, kribs, and lots of fishes at the top. Still there are lots of hiding places for frys (like under the driftwood shown in the picture). I have been trying to drop a little food in the back for mom but current will prevent any explicit baby food from reaching that area.

Oh I see, lol. Wow incredible that you have Nannacara in woth Apistogramma..I figured that be a blood bath! Awesome they 'get along'.....yeah turkey baster is all I can think of!

Have a good 1 and good luck!