Creating a natural breeding aquarium for dwarf cichlids. (I've never kept these!)

The first of a few breeding tanks that we will be setting up in the fish room upstairs. I didn't want the sterile look of a proper breeding tank, so I thought I would aquascape it a little
Find out more about the new Oase Scaperline here:
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Hardscape:
Seiryu stone
Oak leaves
Thelumbo pods
Plants:
Hygrophila Corymbosa Thailand
Cryptocoryne Balansae
Echinodorus Ozelot green
Water lettuce
Fish:
Apistogramma macmasteri Gold
Hockey stick pencil fish
Rummy nose tetra
Support the channel by joining the channel members area here.
/ @fishshopmatt
Find all my merch below!
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‪@OASEUK‬ ‪@oasevideo‬

[@tirreg95]

You should do a crossover with MD. Both of you scape a tank in the other ones FishRoom and then reveal it to the other later. Like if you agree, they should do it! :)

[@suffysdave]

Yes the pink flamingo 🦩this is a blessed tank already 😊

[@bluebird4614]

I love that I found a content creator who mentions emperor tetra. Now I just need a lemon tetra appreciator

[@FishShopMatt]

Hahaha 🤣 I love all tetras and lemons have a slot in one of my upcoming tanks.

[@bluebird4614]

@@FishShopMatt Can't wait for the video then!!! I used to always overlook them until I got some on a whim and they became my favourite. They are probably one of the hardiest fish out there (including the albinos)

[@LongfieldExotics]

I love using Lemons along side Rosy Tetra, the perfect combination 😄

[@bluebird4614]

@@LongfieldExotics that's my favourite combo too!! They really complement each other. I'd like to combine my lemons with cherry tetra as they are closer in size with identical body shape but they aren't available in my country

[@BaselineBoulder]

I think we need t-shirts with the pink flamingo IYKYK

[@FishShopMatt]

Hahaha Katie was actually working on some the other day

[@BaselineBoulder]

@ Save one for me! Great tank, Matt!

[@supplesucc]

Take my money right now 🦩

[@Jhiggy76]

Could you do a fish tank tour throughout the entire house soon? Would love an overview of all the tanks and how they're faring. Setups are great but this would be a good break up.

[@FishShopMatt]

Absolutely been so busy with building the garage I've got to get back on my normally content

[@Vyborgclark]

After watching the video I wanted to say I appreciate your content especially your knowledge and humor!

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! That's very kind of you!

[@Chompchompyerded]

Matt, could you do a show on breeder aquariums where you get two aquariums together and they have baby aquariums? That way we can breed aquariums and never have to buy new ones! Happy New Year! May this New Year bring you even more success than you've ever imagined!

[@FishShopMatt]

That would be really useful for the new fish garage. Happy new year to you!!!

[@OllyBPlayz]

Happy new year Matt. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2025.

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!

[@suffysdave]

Thanks Matt for your enthusiasm, it brings joy! All the best with the channel in 2025. Greetings from Belgium

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year! Thank you so much

[@marvinbokamp6486]

awesome video : pacing, edit, tank design, commentary and vibes everything 10/ 10 much love

[@FishShopMatt]

Much appreciated! Thank you so much!!!

[@markfranklin8831]

Amazing should be breading in no time. Thanks for sharing

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks for watching

[@eldridgehenry2]

YOU ARE THE MAN. I AM WAITING ON THE NEXT COLLABORATION WITH MD. YOUR FAN FROM MEMPHIS TN USA

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! Let's see what 2025 brings.

[@WarrenVenter.]

Great video, happy new year Matt and fellow fish keepers 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!

[@aislingmckee2964]

Oh brilliant! What a great way to start the new year, a lovely video from Fish Shop Matt. Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!

[@mountainhobbit1971]

this is my new favorite tank of yours! Your aqua-scaping is getting so good. Brilliant mate.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much for saying this, really kind 💜

[@grahamhamilton6111]

I like the idea of setting up a breeding tank that is easy on the eye ie looks good. Please do some more Matt.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you, this is exactly what I thought. If you want a breeding tank in your living room you don't want it to look rubbish.

[@LongfieldExotics]

Loving the videos! youve inspired me to restart making YT videos after 13 years 🫣😄

[@SelbyRadabah]

Great Build, love this tank!

[@megmills4798]

Well Matt will watch rest at later time 2:11 am been up since 7 am yesterday,,love tank so far😊

[@GSG-lc5zm]

Beautiful tank .. It really turned out well.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@rettag2020]

Buy a bunch of flamingo cups and autograph them! I'll buy one ❤ Happy New Year to you and your family, Matt 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

Hahaha I'll see what I can do, happy new year!!! 🎊

[@billrieger7557]

Found your channel from MD. I just love it. Really really good and practical information for new comers like me and you don't "talk down" to rookies like me. Keep up the great work and again thanks!

[@JB-dd2qw]

Thank you for your videos this year. Brilliant content I love to watch, and hope you and your family have a wonderful 2025.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much!

[@eatmynoobfood7461]

Pretty sure i have commented "3D printed FSM merch" before 🤣🤣🤣 Great vid to wrap up 2024. Happy New Year to everybody 😜✌️💜

[@FishShopMatt]

Hahaha I'll work on it! Happy new year!

[@Mabirchell]

Love the apistos! They definitely have an attitude for their size.

[@FishShopMatt]

Agreed if you scaled them up they would be some of the most nasty fish out there.

[@craigquinn8225]

apistogramma are my favourite dwarf cichlid. them ones are really nice. love the scape aswell. 😎

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much!

[@megmills4798]

Your music choices are just excellent😊

[@FishShopMatt]

Glad you like them!

[@MandyJane123700]

I'm glad you decided not to put emperors in there, they are really beautiful fish but they will eat small things. I tried keeping cherry shrimp with mine and they even ate the adults! Hope you can get the cichlids to breed, they are so pretty. Happy New Year!!

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year, it was definitely the correct decision.

[@JimmyMilne]

Fantastic content, Matt! I’ll be keeping an eye on your channel from now on as I plan my upcoming Scaper 140 tank (might go bigger if I get a deal). Returning to the hobby after about 4 years out

[@twinpotracer]

Please 3D print the flamingo cup for your shop! We would all buy one😂

[@MrG.Ivan76]

💯

[@FishShopMatt]

🤔 hmm definitely need to have a think about this 😂 that complex a design might be out of my skillset though

[@MrG.Ivan76]

@@janetaylor8635 for real

[@Kennyjustdoit]

Facts!

[@bentaylor-jx8ci]

Yes I got some a few years ago from Tesco ​@@MrG.Ivan76

[@BenjaminWatson-ph4gr]

Hi mate,love your KZbin vids and it’s really inspired me to get into the hobby! Would love to see you do a native fresh water tank,there is very little on KZbin about setting one up,I think people think are native freshwater is boring,but there are some lovely interesting fish that could be added like roach,Rudd,perch,gudgeon,tench minnows and sticklebacks. All the best.

[@cheeseballs3825]

Thanks for another upload!

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you! 💜

[@ScottsScapes]

Awesome tank. Love Apistogrammas….Borelli are my favourite 🤙🏼

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you! I do love borellis!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Beautiful pair of fish…gorgeous honeymoon home for them!

[@amx1820]

Happy New Year 🎊 Matt

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!

[@frankcapel4557]

Matt, dude that aquarium looks amazing love how the tank turned out keep up the hard and great work and a happy new year to you and the family. See you.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks! You too buddy! 🎉

[@nicolaifr4905]

Happy new year 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year

[@adam6260]

Fabulous looking tank, I'll look forward to seeing updates on this tank.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you!

[@FlowstateAquatics]

I need to get my hands on some more seiryu stone of that size, what beautiful hardscape selections!

[@FishShopMatt]

It is a beautiful stone, I really enjoyed using it for this scape.

[@kzookid2051]

I was hoping for a pair of Bolivian rams, but these apistogramas are lovely! With the shimmying going on almost immediately, you've likely got some fry already. I love the setup; it looks wonderful. All 'round, it's an awesome tank.

[@franklinmanjarres3827]

omggggg!! beautiful video, fishes and acuarium.... nice too meet you from Colombia

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you very much!

[@Winny-woo-woo]

Lots of ooooo's and aaaaahhh's, nice one ❤

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks 👍

[@harryhealy7142]

That's an awesome setup dude really love it, I have a pair of apistogramma viejita

[@timpekarek9159]

I love this. It really looks good.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you!

[@vesawuoristo4162]

Very nice. I hope it goes well.

[@SkroomJuice]

Appistogramma are my favorite fish for sure! My Agazzisi are my babies! Enjoy them!

[@FishShopMatt]

Such a great fish! 💜

[@ethanwilton1602]

Having a pod each side like that kinda looks a bit symmetrical but that’s just my opinion. Apart from that another fantastic looking scape Matt!

[@FishShopMatt]

That's a good point I hadn't seen that until you mentioned it

[@robbiepayne865]

Loving your videos mate 👍

[@FishShopMatt]

Glad you like them!

[@jakobraahauge7299]

Happy new year to you and your lovely family, Matt! So happy I dropped by to leave a like- I found the counter at just below 667 and being a big fan of auspices in my own very little head space my like really did count as something 😂 have a great night! Don't get yourself or your loved ones get blown up by anything but love tonight! ✌️🥳🎉🌟✨️😄

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you happy new year to you too! Every comment, like and sub does help and means a lot to me!

[@MDBD2405]

Lovely little set up, looks great with the caves nice .

[@LordChumbley]

Another great video. Love the work. Glad to see you’re feeling better. Hope you and yours have a great holiday season.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks buddy 💜 have a great holiday season

[@Rosewood22]

I recently got a pair of apistogramma trifasciata their really pretty fish and hopefully I see some babies from them soon

[@FishShopMatt]

Trifas are beautiful! I always see them but they're tiny in the shops. If I can find a decent sized pair I'll grab them.

[@allenbruner4609]

New content! So excited! Hope you and the fam are feeling better. 🩵

[@FishShopMatt]

Yes! Thank you we are getting there. Just in time for my boy to go back to school and bring something else home hahaha

[@MyyllLing]

Beautiful tank. I’m inspired but alas I don’t have the space for more tanks.

[@FishShopMatt]

Surely there is space for a little one hahaha

[@SleeperBBQ]

Keep them coming thank you

[@FishShopMatt]

Will do 💜

[@Bennyhanna7]

I just picked up my first ever apistos a couple weeks ago to go with my rummies!

[@FishShopMatt]

Fab choice 💜

[@Lilyflowergirl98]

Happy new year FSM family.... the tank looks gorgeous. I like the stone and plants set up looks wonderful. I've kept these fish before in the same set up, same size tank, floating plants, hiding places and dither fish. When they started breeding the male got aggressive chasing the dithers and ended up on the floor. Gutted... he was beautiful and the batch of eggs failed. I always keep at least an inch gap but it wasn't enough. I wish i had a lid fitted. The tank is now a nano community tank ... with a lid.

[@leahnichol6665]

😢

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year, thank you so much for the info. I will try and find a jump guard to fit to keep them safe.

[@Lilyflowergirl98]

@@FishShopMatt I measured the tank and ordered a made to measure acylic top, not perfect but does the job

[@rahburtlantz2920]

I love this tank, I'd like to do something similiar in my home.

[@FishShopMatt]

You should!

[@Vyborgclark]

Great Video - Happy New Year!

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!

[@heinrichvisser8518]

Happy New Year , Matt. Let's get this amazing channel to 100K by the end of January. Love your videos. Greetings from South Africa.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! We're getting there, slow and steady wins the race.

[@traceyirwin1954]

Video about betas and fish that can live with them, also other fish and their companions would be good 😊

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks for the idea!

[@megmills4798]

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!🎉😊

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!!

[@donnawalker3260]

Happy new yr Matt & fam 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!!

[@juliepackham6669]

Loving these. I am cycling my first 55 gal and I have decision paralysis with what to put in it. these weren't even on my list but now they are!

[@Kalle126]

Perfect timing for a great start into the new year 🎉. Great choice of fish as well. I would love to keep some apistogramas as well but i dont think theyll do all to well with my Guppy fry.

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks buddy. No I disagree, they would LOVE your guppy fry 😂

[@Kalle126]

Oh yeah they'll eat them whole because they are so sweet 😂

[@mcbabs7495]

C'est toujours très agréable de visionner vos vidéos! Un grand merci à vous!

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! 💜

[@miniscenesgb]

Happy New Year Matt! Love this vid as always, crackin' 'scape

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year! Thank you!

[@innieplays]

I love AOSE as well, looks super super nice. There's just one problem. It's fracking expensive!!!!!! Hahaha. Sadly waaaay out of my price range, and will never be in it. I wish people in our area were selling some nice tanks for our budget, sadly everything in our budget is too far away. Midlands seems to be very expensive. Hehe.

[@dirtydog347]

Hi, love the video. What Maidenhead aquatics did you used to work at ? I would like to go and take a look

[@Pud26]

He worked at the Taunton branch- which is actually just outside Taunton in wellington

[@dirtydog347]

@ thank you

[@R14DSR]

Hi Matt. Please can you do a video. Or advise us new people on air stones? Are they important? What do they do? Benefits etc? Happy new year! 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

I've had the script for this video written for a while and haven't got round to filming I will try and get it done asap.

[@Aftek]

happy new beer !

[@GustaBS10]

Happy new year guys 🎉

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year!!

[@Wavey1988]

One of my new years goals is to set up an aquarium for one of the more unusual species of Apistogramma. I'm thinking either nijsseni, MacMasters or Borelli!

[@FishShopMatt]

Brilliant! They're all lovely fish, hard choice there.

[@morilot]

I've also got a group of ten Apistogramma, but mine are Fire Red. I bought them as juveniles and of same size, the females are maybe a third of the size of the males now. Don't know why they won't grow, also they're in hiding most of the time. That Hygrophila Thailand grows like crazy, I've also got it in my 540L which is 60 cm high and it reaches maybe 20 cm above the surface right now because I've not chopped it back for a few months.

[@FishShopMatt]

Depending on what fire red species you have the females maybe not as bossy as the males or maybe just generally smaller than the boys.

[@DatKrazyKook]

I like MD’s vids but maybe a little too mainstream for me at this point. Yours just has that home feel to it (of course your in your home ha 😅). Big fan of both channels though! Support from across the pond!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much!

[@haukdiammikaduh4971]

I see dwarf cichlids in any words. I watch

[@MrG.Ivan76]

Sooo I've started a thing , whenever anyone says "fish shop Matt" I say "fish shop who" its a thing You should make a t-shirt 🤣 Your a household name quite interesting the reactions I get 👌

[@FishShopMatt]

😂 love that! That's so cool but also very surreal to think of myself as a household name.

[@MrG.Ivan76]

@FishShopMatt Fish Shop Who . . .

[@AQUADANUK]

💯🎯🐠 great video mate

[@sosonic12000]

Best wishes for 2025 my amazing fish brother from another mother 🎉 🎏❤

[@FishShopMatt]

Many many thanks best wishes for you too! 💜

[@nickm6389]

@10:01 the flamingo is back. F yeah

[@sowmanyseedlings]

Love it!

[@connorwright5542]

Matt, this is a fantastic build. Very cool seeing the mcmasteri slot into breeding mode right away too. What lamp have you used for this set-up please? Thank

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you! The light is an AI prime with 3d printed cover to shade the light a bit.

[@youfishdotnz]

Subbed again bro!

[@FishShopMatt]

Thanks for the sub!

[@RotGoblin]

I'm going to tentatively suggest you have a dominant male and a subdominant male, but Macmasteri are notoriously difficult to sex. I absolutely LOVE apistogramma though, you're heading down a great path with them. All the attitude of a big cichlid in a teeny tiny package.

[@dannyh4309]

Loving the uploads recently, really well put together, professional content, I can see this channel getting huge! 🎉 I recently got a pair of Incas In a similar setup, heavily planted but more wood less rock and 15 ruby tetra as dithers I filter with peat in my Apisto setups (ehiem torf pellets) to bring the ph down and find it really effective (I know slightly frowned upon but the fish love it) Only issue I’m having is the male is super aggressive towards the female especially when I’m feeding. Luckily she has loads of places to get away but I’m hoping it’s because they are still young they don’t seem to have ‘bonded’ yet I’ve never kept incas before do you think adding another female would help? I haven’t had a problem with my Borelli or agassizii harassing the female this bad

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! I find apistos so different when it comes to temperament. As you say it may just be them still being young and they will chill and get the hang of it as they grow. You could certainly try a second female but be ready to separate the spare female out. Sometimes once a pair forms they can terrorise the other female so just be ready. My friend once has a female nijesseni that would chase anything and everything, she had issues.

[@dannyh4309]

@ Thanks for the comprehensive response much appreciated! I’ll definitely get a separate little tank ready before I get another female then. (Been meaning to set up a new quarantine for a while my previous turned into a a shrimp tank🤣) Your definitely right with the different temperaments, my inca male has even eaten all the little snails that came in on the plants. Not seen my others interested in snails before but I might be wrong!

[@dixsigns1717]

awesome video

[@pandugofast]

Those prints look pretty good man. You dabbling in CAD or just printing off Thingiverse? That's some mighty fancy filament, I think you might be deeper into the rabbit hole than you lead on?

[@FishShopMatt]

Hahaha thank you, I'm dabbling in it a bit and also following some awesome designers. The filament is a fancy glittery Christmas filament that I got but it suited this role quite well.

[@adamlomas1372]

With the caves and hiding pockets... What about build up of fish muck etc? How will you cope with this? Great video!

[@seansmith5904]

Fantastic as always, would love to know what song you are playing at 31:53.

[@alexmclaren7823]

My macmasteri have bread for the first time this month! Hopefully they survive 😅

[@FishShopMatt]

Very exciting! Hopefully they do well!

[@PawPawStrawberry]

Happy New Year! Would you consider doing a fish files for apistogramma? I just got my first pair of apistogramma hongsloi and they are such fun fish to watch!

[@FishShopMatt]

Yeah I have plans to do some bigger fish files covering a whole group rather than single species.

[@lukehandley7930]

Great aquascape for the cichlids in sure they'll breed in that environment once settled just a quick question I've had issues with root tabs leaching into the water column lately could you give any advice or maybe a substitute feeding method for plants I'm using inert sand

[@FishShopMatt]

Thank you so much! Hmmm my first answer would be more plants or less root tabs to allow the plants to use up the nutrients near them. Maybe breaking the roots tabs into smaller pieces maybe the best option for you.

[@bmcc901]

Nice 👌

[@gemmacorinne9487]

Happy new year Matt! Looking forward to the content going forward, so please to have been watching you for a long time now. I adore this pair, they’re beautiful and the tank is great too, those seed pods were a great choice

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year to you too! Thank you so much for watching!!! 💜💜💜

[@nightlite9009]

Um... am I being daft? I thought those split ones were Sterculia Pods, some people call them "Jungle Pods"? I thought Thelambu pods were heart shaped. Am I wrong? I use foam rings like those to provide holes for light and feeding. Plants sometimes make their way into them, but they seem to do the job. Lovely fish in this one

[@FishShopMatt]

Hmmm you maybe on to something, I bought these ages ago as thelambu pods. One definitely looks like a thelambu but the other does look more like a sterculia.

[@michelrood2966]

Im sorry Matt but I have to disagree on the glass being strong enough and everything. Its not about that, the glass can indeed handle a good amount of weight but a pointy edge can crack a tank, I've seen it happen. Best not to let it rest on the glass at all.

[@its_elser]

Hi Matt Happy New Year! just out of interest how much do those pots of Buce retail for? love this tank

[@FishShopMatt]

Happy new year to you too! Varies from shop to shop and species. But normally £7 - £9 per pot.

[@ultramaximusreviews]

Never seen that species before

[@brockn7878]

Id imagine keeping it detritus free with those huge caves will be a trick. How is the flow going to get under there?

[@FishShopMatt]

With the big openings it does let some flow through but it will need manual removal from me from time to time.

[@gidgitvonlarue9972]

I watch your channel due to MD - noticed you don't use a substraight - just sand. I'm so confused Matt. I did do my third tank with just gravel and stones - and all the plants have dyed. My two other tanks used substraight and root tabs - all the plants flourishing. I know you are the super professional fish tank guy so do the plants you are using do well in just sand? xxx