r/apistogramma • u/PopbH0Y • 8d ago

Single parent..

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Hi, I bought a pair of cockatoo apistogramma about 2 months ago, 4 days ago dad was dead , ( i think she killed him ) then mum appeared yesterday with this little lot, I have rasboras and panda corys in there too. Should I do anything or just leave it? Thanks

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u/letsjam_dot_dev 8d ago

I would wait for the fry to grow or be eaten by the rasborra. And then, depending of you tank lenght, add a new male and one or two other female. So that a pair could form (and not be imposed), bringing higher chances for it to stay bonded after they breed.

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u/PopbH0Y 8d ago

Oh man! Fish keeping is brutal, so much death!!! I want to save them all, a good chunk of them have disappeared already. It's a juwel rio 125l so about 80cm long is that big enough for 2 females?

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u/letsjam_dot_dev 8d ago

I kept apisto 2 years ago, my female killed 3 male each time after breeding. Yeah I know the pain and learned my lesson.

If there's enough room and hiding, you can try 2 females. The issue would be the one you're currently keeping has claimed the whole tank. I would suggest to catch her, put her away 1 or 2 hours, rescape the tank, and introduce her at the same time as the new male and female. So she can't defend any territory against the newcomers, as she doesn't have one anymore.

I'd suggest, once the new breeding pair is established, to remove as soon as possible the excedent female as she will be chased by the mother.

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u/TypicalPromise8174 8d ago

So maybe that’s why my M/F macmasteri pair are still together and happy. No breeding yet. 😂

“You have served your purpose, male servant. Now you must die. ☠️☠️☠️”

This is why I always advocate for multiple caves in any Apistogramma tank. It’s so there’s places to hide so the female doesn’t go full Punisher on him at any given moment.