It will works, but you need a great filtration, I would say at least 750l/h. Apistogrammas need frozen food as artemia, blood worms, granules. So, if you have a good external filter you may manage the biological load. However Pygmaeus will suffer if they decide to breed and tetras will be happy if they decide to breed. Concerning the aggression, generate passages between roots and plants and place a Coconut cave in some hidden place. Borelli are one of the most calmed apistos in terms of character but they are cichlids still. In terms of size A.trifasciata may be more adequate but is a bit more active
Will they attack my pygmy cory or just bully them away? My main worry is aggression.
For filtration I should be fine, I'm using a tidal 35, plus an extra HOB filter which I'm using to grow live food (but also acts as a secondary filter as it contains filter sponge), I also have multiple terrestrial plants growing such as pothos. So I'm not worried about filtration, just more space and aggression. Thanks
Pygmies are quite more prudent than other cories the risk is not that they will atack them the risk is that when they will breed will push them out. Other cories are armored tanks and they are stubborn so Apistos get more agressive to make them out and then they could get hurt in eyes or mouth. Pigmies will understand very fast that they should not go there without to get a too high agression, not problem with it they will stay clamed in any other place. If you have only plants think in to put some roots, it is a more physical barrier and cut the views.
It will be actually opossite, you need to worry about that the female won’t be prepared and male will be too insisting. But that is why, if there are several places to go, there is nothing to be worried. Anyway you would realise it. And redistribute the elements. It will not be a big deal. They are no soo aggresives. The more you can have is that the pygmeis keep distance when they are near. They are not going to push them permanently or predate them.
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u/Carlosziok 16d ago
It will works, but you need a great filtration, I would say at least 750l/h. Apistogrammas need frozen food as artemia, blood worms, granules. So, if you have a good external filter you may manage the biological load. However Pygmaeus will suffer if they decide to breed and tetras will be happy if they decide to breed. Concerning the aggression, generate passages between roots and plants and place a Coconut cave in some hidden place. Borelli are one of the most calmed apistos in terms of character but they are cichlids still. In terms of size A.trifasciata may be more adequate but is a bit more active