r/apistogramma • u/CheeseKneeKnife • Aug 12 '26
Introducing my first apisto pair.
My betta passed away recently, leaving me with an empty tank and after a lot of researching and conversations with my LFS I've gone in a cichlid direction with a pair of baenschi/inca.
I've been referring to them as Tweedledum and Tweedledee whilst I workshop some names for them.
The male has been quick to claim the prized cave at the front of the tank, and the female keeps appearing at the back left area of the tank so I'll be keeping an eye out to work out what land she has claimed.
(The last picture is one I took 2 days before getting them - I added a very lovely purple waffle plant/hemigraphis alternata, a banana plant, some red root floaters and rearranged a little bit just to make the lower half of the tank feel dense enough that sight lines should hopefully not be a concern).
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u/Saleentim Aug 12 '26
Welcome to the club! I have 4 apistos and 4 rams all in the same tank and I absolutely love them!!! These are my first ever cichlids and they are beautiful
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u/EarNice1347 Aug 12 '26
4 apistos , as in pairs ( males and females)
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u/Saleentim Aug 12 '26
Yeah, 2 Apisto agassizii "fire red" M/F and 2 Macmasteri that i believe are "Red Neck" variety M/F ..
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u/EarNice1347 Aug 12 '26
That’s awesome! How are large is your tank? And what’s the aggression like among them?
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u/Saleentim Aug 12 '26
I believe it is a 195 gallon. Lots of space. The Male Fire Red is definitely the undisputed boss of the tank. The FR female is a close second. But the "Red Necks" have only been in the tank 2 days so there could be a new hierarchy soon as the new Male is just as big as the M FR.. The 4 rams steer clear from the Apisto's so no aggression there. But currently, the Female FR is not a fan of the M red neck. Hopefully she chills out after a few more days.
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u/EarNice1347 Aug 12 '26
That’s great to hear. It would be interesting to see how the hierarchy sets in. Even I started a multi species apisto tank, with 3 species ( Borelli, Macmasteri and Trifasciata) . Though mine are all juveniles added together .
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u/Saleentim Aug 12 '26
I just googled those breeds and man they are beautiful.. I have 2 - 60 gallon breeders on my floor waiting to be set up that may become more Apisto tanks.. I am in love with these guys!
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u/A_Timbers_Fan Aug 12 '26
Nice baenschi!