How I Bred Apistogramma Elizabethae at Home
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- čas přidán 24. 06. 2023
- In this video I'll cover my approach to breeding and raising Apistogramma Elizabethae. I'll explain the methods I used to form pairs, achieve proper water parameters, and raise the fry.
Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave questions in the comments if you have them, and If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing to see future projects.
Do you know of any good online stores to purchase apistos in the US? Do you ship?
I don't ship fish but I have had good experiences with the wet spot and also red fish blue fish in oregon.
Great video. They are my favorit apisto by far. How was the male/female ratio....???
The Rocky analogy made me chuckle.
It was funny, but to actually Rocky‘s apartment:)
Best breeding channel, the fact that you upload only a few videos make them more special, the explanation are awesome, just love it and it's one of my favorite channels...
I will always enjoy this kind of content
The algorithm has just thrown this video up on my feed. This is a very attractive species and quite scarce in the hobby (esp here in UK) and then when the fishes do make an appearance, the price is exorbitant. This is the sister species to A. agassizii distinguished by the extended dorsal lappets of the male and the lyrate shape of his caudal. A confirmed blackwater acidophilic dweller, so your use of 100% RO is spot on, as is the need for tannins. With regard to females moving the fry, I've observed this behaviour in many apisto species, and it appears to be an anti-predation tactic, whereby the females usually prepare pits beforehand and move the wrigglers post-hatching. Some are better at this than others. Males eating the eggs is down to a number of causes, naivety being a primary cause, and lack of employment being another. In the absence of other fishes in the aquarium, the male cannot fulfill his role in defending his territory and focuses his attention on the female and the eggs, when he should be patrolling his territory and repelling intruders, breaking off to return to the spawning cave to fertilise the latest string of eggs. This is a critical few minutes of his life. Whilst he is busily fertilising the eggs inverted, a predator could dash in and catch him with his pants down, so he has to be quick and get out there to fend off any threats. And, once the eggs are laid, the female kicks him out of the cave so he can return to defending the territory. In the wild, parents don't get several chances to "get it right", such a strategy would be counterintuitive to the survival of the species. What we are witnessing here is an artefact of captivity, the fishes' response to an altered environment. But, luckily, despite the glitches, we achieve the result we anticipated.
I think you're right about that. Some of the males' bad behavior seems explainable by having nothing better to do.
You have a great channel. Keep it up. The hobby needs people like you.👍🏻
I got so excited when you posted 😮😮😮
Awesome video! I have Cacatuoides and Panduro. My Panduro is yet to breed as they are still in a 7ph community tank- the cacatuoides on the other side have now raised 2 batches of fry successfully. I lost the first due to an ammonia spike, the second is doing well now- i haven’t removed my male once in the 5 spawns theyve had. The female seems ti have him under control and is the boss of the tank. He doesn’t bother at all while the eggs are hatching, and helps to defend the fry against the dither fish. Before i removed the most recent batch, the parents stopped parenting, the female wanted to spawn again, so she would chase the fry off, however the male was still caring for and protecting them for a day or two on his own.
I’ve heard of other Cacatuoides males doing the same, and even one raising them from newly hatched fry after the female passed.
I’m unsure of any other apistos, but the cacatuoides definitely can co-parent on occasions :))
Well I'm waiting for it. I would like to see it. In a couple of cases I have left males in the tank but generally saw them keeping their distance. Using rams and kribensis as a model, I look for males picking up and moving fry around the tank, or bringing food to them. Some kind of active participation.
@@MakeMoreFish Good luck! Thanks for the videos man, they rock! :)) and congrats on breeding these beautiful fish, they are a dream of mine 😍
I've been so exited for another one of these videos! Id love to see a video on plecos, african cichlids, and otocinclus!
I was just wondering the other day when you'd post agian. Loved the video! Thank you!
I am so glad I found your channel! The little dry humor bombs are fantastic!! Beautiful fish 😍
Your videos are awesome. Truly informative. Thanks
Your videos just keep getting better, awesome job.
Love your videos, would love to see a Badis Badis video like this...
Nicee! I've remember you referencing this species a couple times in previous videos. You said not to get our hopes up but I'm glad it all worked out!
Brilliant video, great quality as usual
Thanks for this very interesting video!
I love Apistogramma, and especially Elizabethae !
Always waiting for your videos !
Love and respect from India
Absolutely love your videos. They inspired me to try breeding rams! (chise them over apistos only because of the price). Got 4 baby german blues this past weekend in hopes for a breeding pair. Can’t wait to see the next video
I have been waiting for this video to drop!!!!
Always a pleasure
❤❤ just watched this episode on a 55" TV with sound system on 🎉🎉..... it's an blissful experience. Always look forward to ur videos.
Great video
I would love to see you do a video on Nothobranchius korthausae.
I have to say to camera shots are amazing. Great video, I haven’t really put effort in to breeding apisto’s but one day….
Thanks for sharing great video 💗👍✌️💯
Dude literally love and need these videos lol. Wish you could upload more often so I wouldn’t have to rewatch these all the time 😂😂
When I win the lottery, it'll be all fish all the time. Cross your fingers for me.
Love the Rocky reference 😅
5:50 Male does not care directly about fry but he defends the whole territory. I have seen this several times when apistogramma cacatuoides (rams also behave similarly) were spawning in my community tank. I am pretty sure that male doesn't eat any fry. Worth to mention that apistos usually are able to care about eggs and fry after first few spawns in their life. When breeding in pairs like on video removing male after spawn is right thing to do.
Great video!
Great video! Interesting and helpful observations throughout. Cave camera set up delivers again and would love to know about your set up if you're willing to share. Keep it up!
It's a spedal 1080P webcam outside of the tank looking into the wider opening of the clay pot. I use a gooseneck LED light to illuminate the cave, which is tricky to do without causing glare. It takes some playing around to get everything lined up right.
You have no idea how excited I was to see a new apistogramma video being uploaded 😂 after your advice in the comment section of another apisto video I’ve gotten my pair to push out monthly spawns! Quick question though, when you buy apistos do you usually buy multiple pairs and see which pair breeds the best or do you just get one pair?
That's great news! It depends how difficult the fish are to find. If they are common, I start with one pair and only buy more if I have to. For species that aren't available consistently, like these Elizabethae, I buy more as a hedge against any losses.
do you have a certificate in camera work? you choose to place your clips so well and have events play out with careful narration.
this is helping me draw good attention to fish behaviour and habits. this is educational enough for school kids and i know nothing impresses them in general 😂
I am completely unqualified for every aspect of making these videos. That's half the fun
2:12 The only time when he won’t be called a creep
Faust type deal? Seems excessive for fish breeding, lol! As always great video!
Thank you for sharing your carefully designed and edited video. How do you determine the ratio of females and males in the apisto community tank of the relevant subspecies and what are the dimensions of the community tank?
The group of young adults are in a 20 long. Determine the ratio.. I don't quite understand. Are you asking how I plan a ratio or how I discover the ratio by sexing?
@@MakeMoreFishRatio that they dont fight with each other :). I have problem keeping them togather. 20 long in inch or in cm?
Aahhhhhh I always love these! Have you ever considered branching out to another aquatic egg-laying species? I understand african dwarf frogs are relatively straightforward and are fully aquatic. There's also a certain amount of confusion between them and african clawed frogs, and both are sold regularly at LFS and big box stores. Do you think that might pique your interest, or is your passion for fish and fish alone? Just curious! This is one of my all time favorite channels and I'm always interested to hear what you have to say.
Not exactly aquatic but if I were to branch out to other species, I think it would be dart frogs. Frogs actually are my favorite animals.
@@MakeMoreFish Oooooo dart frogs are super cool! The way they breed has always fascinated me! Every time you post I just get more and more excited for the next video.
I also have a pair but do not plan on breeding them. They're in a 29-gallon tank that is heavily planted tank in a community tank I have had them for about 7 months that were wild caught and had them from about 1 to 2 in in length. A truly beautiful fish.
Great new video! I would like to ask if there are any good fish for a 3-foot shallow aquarium?
So many options.. footprint is often more important than height so as long as we're talking about 2-3 inch fish, I think you have the whole catalog available to you. Probably something that doesn't jump. Shelldwellers would be fun.
hi was wondering if you can do rock kribensis i been having trouble breeding mine and cant find and videos online
Hi Lowell, really great video, thank you! I have some sterbai, and am collecting eggs as they have finally started spawning in my 40 breeder. After a year with no problems, I have had issues with BBS from two vendors, can you please tell me who’s you use, I am in the US also. Thanx again for the amazing content.
I buy my everyday brine shrimp eggs from aquarium co op. San Francisco strain from brineshrimpdirect
Ok, thank you!
Oh, and my kribs had their first fry (at least 10) out of the coco hut today! 4th female and 8 months later! Thanks for the advice on kribs video too!
Please can you do a video on cherry rasbora
Can I ask what camera you're using inside the pot? That point of view is AMAZING and I would love to stalk my Apistos the same way! 😁😁 Just found your channel today and very happy I did! I am currently trying to improve my "fish perspective" as I've recently realized I have a lot of book knowledge on my fish and water, but very little understanding from the fishy point of view.
It's a spedal 1080P webcam outside of the tank looking into the wider opening of the clay pot. I use a gooseneck LED light to illuminate the cave, which is tricky to do without causing glare. It takes some playing around to get everything lined up right.
@@MakeMoreFish WOW!! I thought for sure it was an underwater camera!! You've done a GREAT job!! It doesn't ever seem to scare them away from the cave?
@@nutmeggs There's a black shade behind the camera and with everything holding still, it doesn't seem to bother them that much, usually. Sometimes it takes a while to get them comfortable with it. It would all be easier in a normal cave but I think the information provided by watching their behavior inside is priceless.
Great video.
Ive been breeding apistog years ago, dont have any fish atm.
Have had 1 Elisabethea spawn, they are my favorit af all apistos.
My one problem with them was the spawn sex.
The spawn was about 20-25 young, but only 3 males, rest was female.
What do you think about that problem.
I use rainwater, ph 5 , sadly dont remember the tds/mms.
Best regards Brian
I've had fairly good luck with apisto sex ratios. I know temperature and pH have some effect on that but when dealing with a species that really doesn't want to breed unless the pH is super low already, I'm not sure where the line is that has to be considered to aim for a more even ratio. Sometimes you get what you get. Maybe another spawn would turn out differently.
How do you manage the stability of aquarium with so low pH 5.3 ?
Occasional water changes. It's a logarithmic scale and in lieu of a buffer, it takes exponentially greater acid concentration to drive the pH lower. If it takes X to drop from 6 to 5, it takes 10X to drop from 5 to 4. I don't worry much about it and can't say I've ever measured a pH lower than 4.9 unless I caused it by adding acids manually.
Found a 30g tank on the side of the road and after a leak test and wash i been watching all your videos looking for nextstocking/ breeding project, after having kribs for a while im looking for something different, growing out dwarf neon rainbows now, any suggestions?
Corydoras if you haven't already
@@MakeMoreFish not specifically but my juliis just spawn for me on their own, could be fun to get another type and try to purposely spawn them
The most expensive apisto. Tried breed myself a couple of time but fail to produce. Gave up 🆙. Whats your water parameters?
I currently have a spawn with elizabethae at home. I have experience with breeding some other apistogramma species before, but these show some things I haven't seen before and I can't seem to find any ifo on it. The fry are almost at adult size now and somehow it's like their fontanel haven't grown correctly leaving small gaps on the sides behind the eyes and a line on top of the head. A few of the fry haven't developed the swimbladder correctly either so they fall down if they don't swim frantically. The parents are wildcaught so should'nt be any inbreeding... Have you experienced anything like this? Especially the growing of fontanel. Does it develop over time? I'd hate to have to cull all because of malformation 😢
Not on that scale, but I suspect it's more environmental than genetic. We focus on the chemistry of water quite a bit, but I think that water can get biologically dirty also, and that it can have very negative impacts on fry development.
@@MakeMoreFish well water quality has been kept up ofcourse. However growing older I've let the tank ph and tds come up a bit since it's easier to manage waterchanges. Still blackwater though and tds 70, ph about 6.4. So if it's environmental it could only be that...
Just found your post. Your experience of the occurrence of malformations of the swimbladder in apisto fry is not unusual. Whilst I was Technical Editor of the British Cichlid Association, I received a number of reports of this phenomenon in dwarf cichlids back in the 80s. A number of reasons were put forward for this happening, but none proved to be conclusive. Water quality seemed to be high on the list of suspects, and some aquarists reported improvements following stricter adhesion to cleanliness. Others pointed to diet, but this seemed to be rather subjective, as those fry with normal swimbladder function ate the same food as the belly sliders (as they were called). In other species (eg. trout) nutritional deficiencies did play a role, and this was addressed by the addition of a better vitamin balance. Some people changed their females.
Malformations of the fontanelle are not unheard of, but rare in dwarf cichlids. In other species, these have been found to be due to mild infections of the skull capsule and the vertebral column. Again, this points to aquarium hygiene, and you may have to look into the state of the substrate, although this may not be the only aspect to consider. I'm afraid that the only option you have regarding the belly sliders is to cull them. It's the humane thing to do, because they don't ever recover. Sorry.
I would keep the pH below 6.0 (I know its difficult), keep tannins high with mature alder cones, and soften the water. Lowell got it right with the water chemistry, so this is a good place to start a review. Best of luck in the future, and please post any developments, as this is a very important topic.
after your male picked on a few eggs, i understand the female ate the rest to recover the nutrients, correct?
That's my assumption, and I think a safe one. They eat eggs quickly after some indication that the spawn won't pan out.
Have you ever considered shipping the fish you breed?
Yes, but I currently don't. It's difficult to do well and I'm not equipped for it at the moment.
they look like nice fish, but its my understanding that you can only have one pair, maybe two in a tank, so if you breen them, you are going to run out of tanks quick.
Do fish that lay clumsy jumbled egg masses continue to get better at organizing egg masses as they try laying again?
Or are they duds? Forever painting abstract egg portraits?
I've seen both from the same females and in no particular order. I suspect there is some physical condition of the fish that can give them difficulty in expelling eggs when and where they intend to. Maybe too heavy an egg load at one time or eggs that are past their prime and don't move through the body easily. I can only guess.
Can I isolate eggs to other tank without mother?
It's possible. It helps to let the mother keep the eggs healthy until right before or right after they hatch. The wigglers can be raised artificially.
@@MakeMoreFish I have Apistogramma Viejita one pair they're spawn two time, but the eggs do not hatch I don't know why, cause of temperature?
what's your water parameter ? PH ? TDS? GH?
That's discussed in the video