The Cichlid Room Companion

I converted to a linear air pump from a turbine blower; much quieter! You don't give enough information: # of tanks/outlets, tank depths, size of air line pipe used?

As far as I know there are no "mini Rams" only those that are not full-grown. My guess, since the Rams are sexually mature, is that their growth was retarded due to overcrowding, poor maintenance, or poor nutrition at the beginning.

Yes, it's possible that your fish are the same sex. It's hard to say for sure from video. In L. dorsigera both sexes usually show a dorsal spot. It depends on the population (there are several). The female's dorsal spot often appears as an ocellus surrounded by metallic pigment - but not always.

Your L. dorsigera (not curviceps) appear to be in the process of deciding whether or not to pair-bond. Just keep an eye on them and separate them if one is physically hurt.

Probably the best method would to use Kordon (or equivalent) 'breather bags'. Bag each fish separately. Place the bags in a cooler, making sure that each bag is separate from its neighbor so they don't touch (use towels - or as I do, nylon counted cross stitch mesh). Keep cooler in an air conditione...

Your A. cacatuoides are quite adaptable to water values. They should adapt to your hardness, but not breed or be especially healthy at that level. I would suggest that you mix 50:50 tap water with distilled/RO/DI water. The tap water will provide any buffering that is needed.

Darrell, I know exactly your problem. True - German-bred - German Blue Rams probably no longer exist. I have the same problem when I discuss the original (DDR bred) A. borrellii Opal. I hope this photo of a GBR helps. It is a photo by Horst Linke from a Tetra calendar from 1983 or 1984: A similar ph...

It's hard to say for certain because the photo is too small for a close view. From what I see, I think not. Loricarids rarely get ich compared to fish with small scales like loaches. Ich would appear as small hard white dots with defined borders (more like salt). Your fish appears to have white patc...

No, the temperature seems a tiny bit low. Ideal temps are more like those for Discus, 84 - 86°F/ 30 - 31º C. My guess is that the original breeder used more live foods with more carotenoids in it. This brings out reds and yellows in fish.

My guess is that the old basalt gravel had most of the nitrifying bacteria, used to biologically filter the water of nitrogenous waste. Once you removed and replaced it you had very minimal removal of these chemicals in the tank.

The center brace is important for long, tempered glass, tanks. These tanks use thinner glass panels than the older non-tempered glass tanks. Tempered glass tanks flex more than non-tempered ones. This is the reason for using a center brace on tempered glass tanks. If the flex to much it can cause a ...

Water changes, lots of frequent water changes. You turned your small tank into a chemistry set. Not know how large you cichlid is, the tank may be too small.

I have to agree, there is no real definition for "dwarf cichlid". Most authors who defined species as 'dwarf' (Vierke, Loiselle, ASG, Koslowski, Römer, etc.) also put an additional component into their definition - behavior. In addition to small size, dwarf cichlids do not disturb the aqua...

Are you sure the spelling is correct? I explored parts of the Río Curaray in 2012 & 2015. It is a right bank tributary of the middle Río Napo in Peru.

A. wapisana is reported to reach a maximum SL of 2.9 cm /~1 1/8", although I had some 'big' females that were a bit longer - about the size of an adult Neon Tetra. Biotoecus spp. are longer by about a centimeter.

Apistogramma wapisana is even smaller and lighter.

I use a bottle trap. There are many discussions about how to make and use them on the internet.

Try this one: http://apisto.sites.no/

Just realize that there are 90+ described species of apisto, plus another 300+ undescribed or distinct 'forms or populations' presently recognized. I don't think you'll find photos of them all.

Having seen the importer's cost, these are for hobbyists with deeper (much deeper) pockets than I have.

It would help to know what kind of cichlids you plan to keep in the tank.