Wanted: Dwarf chiclids

Why want something everyone has...why not be unique?

 

Sorry guys for being vague I prefer south american and then kribs and african jewel maybe.I just wanted to know what south american dwarf chiclids that people in the forum might have. I do have firemouths at the moment.Just want to get a feel as to what is out there.

 

If you want to be very technical...you looking at apistos, rams and kribs when you refer to "dwarf cichlids". Firemouths are new world/SA cichlids.

As far as dwarfs...most people on TASA that have them will have kribs and rams...and a few people here and there will have apistos. For the elite...dicrossus (unless you run pure RO water with a pH around 4.5-5.5...dont even think about them)

 

Ha ha! You got a point, but "everyone" cant be wrong in loving to keep them...

 

Think its got more to do with availability than anything else.

Regardless...I love my apistos...and wouldn't swop them for other dwarfs. I'll be the odd one out

 

Are apisto difficult to keep etc

 

I wouldn't say difficult. They aren't as easy as kribs or rams (all my rams get fungus:/) @Deadpool has some really amazing apistos! And an even better setup. He knows a lot more about close to everything so he is the go to guy for micro fish and dwarf fish

 

Been keeping Rams a few years now, and no health issues to date. To be honest, they are some of the toughest fish I ever kept. But that being said, I got them from undoubtedly the best Ram breeders in SA.

 

Jaco I don't know what it was with mine. They were in a discus tank then I moved them into my community tanks and they got the weirdest white growths :/

 

Very weird.

 

I lost the ones that got this but maybe you can tell me what it is and what I can do in the future?

 

Looks like hectic fungal infection. Never had that on any of mine.

 

It's so weird because nothing else got it. It happened in both community tanks and also to one of my friends panda and sterbai cories. Maybe some Metro in each tank will sort it out

 

Where did you get it from? Doesnt look like very good quality fish to start with. It was either in a couple of hectic fights, or very poor breeding, because the mouth looks way skew. A lot of the poorer quality fish just doesnt have the immune system to fight any bacterial, fungal or parasitic attacks. Best thing is to get your fish from a reputable breeder, keep them a very stable environment, and make sure that they eat quality food.

 

Got them when I bought a tank. They were with a discus and some sterbais for a while.

I'm waiting for Marcos rams to add to my discus tank when I set it all up

 

Actually on second thoughts @Jaco83 do you breed? I have a Golden slightly long fin ram and a female GBR in my 4ft community and would love some more. Want 2 electric blue, another golden and then longfin GBR

 

Thanks for the kind words. Tho, not sure about my "knowledge"

Some more than others yes. Some, like Apisto. Cacatuoides, can be classified as equally "challenging" as Rams or Kribs. Meaning, just stay on top of your water changes and all will be ok :blink1: Only difference, prefers bit cooler temps than Rams.

Then you get other apistos (and dicrossus) that require more attention than most people will be willing to give them. Apistos such as Bitaeniata, Elizabethae, Wilhelmi, etc...which I believe only serious Apisto hobbyists should keep.

As with most fish...just do your homework before you buy any fish. Look at their requirements, temperament and compatibility, etc.

 

@gwshorten nothing at the moment, but you cant go wrong with any stock from Marco. Got my very first Rams from him long ago.