Apistogramma agassizii male (left), Apistogramma agassizii female (right)
Photos © Sean Evans
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| Common name: | Agassizi's dwarf cichlid |
| Scientific name: | Apistogramma agassizii |
| Synonyms: | (none) |
| Size: | Up to 3" (7.5cm), female smaller. |
| Origin: | South America: widespread in the Amazon region - Brazil and Peru. |
| Tank setup: | Planted tank, with rock or bogwood caves and soft/fine substrate. |
| Compatibility: | Can be kept in a community tank, but they will become territorial when spawning. |
| Temperature: | 24-28oC (75-82oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Soft and acidic, pH 5.5 - 6.8 preferred. Although the fish are more likely to look their best
and breed in their preferred water, they will usually adapt to slightly harder and alkaline water in the aquarium. |
| Feeding: | Carnivorous: Will take dry foods such as flake and small granular foods, but live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae are preferred. |
| Sexing: | Males are larger and have elongated fins and more intense colour. Females are more yellow in colour, especially when breeding. |
| Breeding: | Soft and acidic water of excellent quality required.
Can be bred as a pair or a harem with several females holding small territories. Provide caves with a very small entrance.
The female normally guards the fry, while the male defends the wider territory. Fry are normally free-swimming in about a week. |
| Comments: |
Several colour variations of this species are available, such as the popular "Double Red".
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