Apistogramma steindachneri

[Rupununi]

I have a trio of new Apistogramma steindachneri, 2 females, 1 male. They have been wonderful additions to my Guyana biotope thus far. Anyone here with experience with this species? Breeding tips?

Here are some photos.

[slimbolen99]

Beautiful tank and fish. Never tried these, but have them on my "want" list. Looking forward to seeing how they do.

[Mike Wise]

This species was 'common as dirt' 30 years ago. Often it was the only apisto commercially available. The aren't as common now. Keeping and breeding should be no problem. Clean water, good food (frozen and live), and time is all that is needed for them to spawn. Water values are not important as long as extremes are avoided. I once had a pair spawn and raise fry in a 5 gallon aquarium with 30, 1/2 in. (35 mm) Platies. They protected the fry and really didn't harm the platies. I don't recommend this breeding set-up. The pair were in the tank only for a short period, to separate them from another breeding apisto. The fish had other ideas!

[Piotr Koba]

Nice input Mike, I didn't realize they were common. People often think (me as well) that only ABC-Apistos were easy to get previously.

[Rico Morgenstern]

Piotr, what are ABC-Apistos? Could it be Agassizi - Borellii - Cacatuoides? When I look what's regularly in the trade here, this seems plausible, but its only a guess.

I am far from being an expert for this genus, nevertheless, A. steindachneri is one of my favorite aquarium fishes. I have kept it twice in the 1990s but I did not succeed in breeding it. Unfortunately I have not seen this species for many years now, though it may (hopefully) still be available in Germany.

[Rupununi]

Thanks for the input so far. Surprising that no one from this esteemed group has this fish now or has breeding tips. It sounds like it has become a rather uncommon fish in the trade. Now I really want to breed them!

[Piotr Koba]

Piotr, what are ABC-Apistos? Could it be Agassizi - Borellii - Cacatuoides? When I look what's regularly in the trade here, this seems plausible, but its only a guess.

Hehe Rico, you're right, and sorry for such abbreviations - I've found it on one of German forums

[Marcus]

I'd replace borellii with bitaeniata. Everytime I get in a mixed batch of wild Apistos there's always bitaeniata in there.