Ash Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 Hey all, I would like to start getting into some Apistos but there are none at all in Townsville ATM so I'd have to order them in. I figured if there was a breeder on here I could most likely get better quality fish for the same sort of money that the LFS would charge ordering them in. I'm way up in North QLD so would it be worthwhile getting them privately? ATM I'm most interested in A cacutoidies "double red" but I'm open to wild caught proper strains as well. ATM I only have a heavily planted 2' tank, though if all goes well I'll be converting my 7' bayfront into an apisto paradise. Anyone got advice on where to get my first fish from? Please bear in mind my location. Cheers Ash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 are there like, no dwarf keepers or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeyBoyR Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Theres a few of us And I'd recommend getting your LFS to order Apistogrammas from Aquarium Industries for you. They have some lovely wildcaught specimens on their wholesale list. I ordered my wildcaught borellii from them and aside from them messing up the sexes I asked for, they fish are top quality and hardy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 got pics? I dunno what varient to get hey. I have a 4' and a 7' potentially earmarked for them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abob Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 You may have already tried but have you tried "Queensland Cichlid & Aquarium Forum". It seems pretty active with local classifieds. Otherwise you probably are best getting them from AI. I know a guy in Brisbane who is ordering Apisto trifasciata from AI. BTW he is selling N. anomala ATM if you are interested. As for which variety, whatever takes your fancy. Avoid those that require very soft acidic water as it will be harder to move the fry and keep them in the hobby. Cacatuoides are nice BUT there are a lot of ordinary ones going around (I've got some nice double/triple reds in melboure ). I'd be reluctant buying them site unseen. You'll probably have better luck with the less inbred varieties going around if you can't see before you buy. The less common, but established species include borelli, hongsloi, nijsseni, panduro, trifaciata and viejita. PS. I don't think AI have any wild borellii left. They weren't on the stock list a few weeks ago when I last looked. PS. I have 6 week old cacatuoides fry and 1 week old viejita fry that I'll sell when they get big enough. The cacs will be avail in around 10 weeks. Good Luck! Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod54 Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I think I'm the guy in Brisbane....and I do have some N. Anomala but they are still quite small....I plan to move them (30?) this week to a larger tank. They are currently growing rapidly in a well planted 2ft tank with their parents and a number of other fish...pencil fish,black phantoms,sterbai corys,small bristlenose,rams and rifle shrimp. Amazing how the female has reared so many fry in such a small tank! I was about to order the tri's from Melbourne but noticed them on the Bay Fish list so I'm hoping a lfs will order some so I can chose a couple of pair. Problem with Apisto's is quite a few in Bris shops of late have been incorrectly named and are so small they are difficult to sex or they are all males....so if you order a pair you may not get what you have ordered. Cacatuoides seem to be the most available(and sexable) in Brisbane. I'll let you know how I go with the trifaciata. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 I'll hit up the LFS I trust tomorrow. he had a bayfish catalouge when I was there & only had cacutoidies varients & and aggassi on it. Edit: Alright, rang the other decent LFS & they only deal with AI & the pricing is infintely better. They have most of the species Dean (Abob) listed available (not all wild caught tho) and a few line bred Apistogramma (sp) *insert varient name here* fish on the list too. I think I'm going for A viejita going by those pics. Is that unusual colouration or anything Dean, compared to yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abob Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Yep, thats them There are a few "forms" overseas but I believe all the ones here are Form II. Mine has a slightly more rounder head than those in tyhe pictures and the caudal fins looks like the male at the bottom : A bright red top and bottom and yellow in the middle (no red on the end). Mine spawned and are raising fry in pH 7+ water but the male has since died Not sure if it is due to the higher pH. Damn tap water went from pH 6.5 to 8 overnight and has stayed there for 6 weeks. grr not good for americans! There is some pics of my female with fry in the photo forum. PS: Rod, you are the guy in Brisbane I refered to PPS: I'd hate to see what bayfish retailers wanted if AI retailers were infinitly better Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 might just have been markup differences - though the 1st place is normally way better value. he said they were hell dear atm & would be about $30ea for cacutoidies - most varients were $10-20 thru the mob going from AI. maybe the 1st guy quoted retail & the second screwed up & gave list prices? I am up in the sticks - everything is stupid priced here. edit: my tap water is usually pretty stable at 7.6, but it's pretty damn soft (GH of between 20-40ppm CaCO?) - CO2 brings it to Ph 6.0 in a few hrs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 26, 2005 Author Share Posted May 26, 2005 Well I'm going into order in the morning - I want to get 4-5 fish tp hopefully end up with two pairs or at least a decent harem with one male. Due to the price I'm leaning more towards those wildcaught A borelli (they were on the list again!) or the old standby A cacutoidies - A viejeta was the dearest varient they had! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 28, 2005 Author Share Posted May 28, 2005 I cheaped out & got Cacs, tho the Borelli's are available & would have cost $25ea - tempting but just outa my budget, $20ea & I would have got em. Spose it's better to learn with a common species than kill some wildcaughts anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abob Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 I personally still love cacs. You should't have much trouble breeding them and they grow-out quick. Sell a batch of fry and you can buy the borelli Good luck. Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 28, 2005 Author Share Posted May 28, 2005 Only two of the stores up here take fish off private people off the street anymore, the rest won't even take them for free! Limits my selling ability, as does the fact I had to order in apistos full stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod54 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 I picked up a pair of A. trifaciata(trifaciatum?)yesterday....absolutely beautiful fish. $50 a pair but worth twice as much....Sorry just had to rave a bit....almost as nice as Dean's Gardneri! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 Got 5 cacutoidies today, all approx 2.5cm & vaguely coloured like the pic on SydneyCichlid - we'll see how they grow up I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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