Apistogramma the Dwarf Cichlid

How would you like to have a small, brightly colored, inquisitive, and wonderful new type of fish to add to your tank as a showstopper or within a community tank? You’ll love the entire Apistogramma Family, we think. Dwarf Cichlids are also known as these fish. They were once very popular but have been making a comeback. There are many color options. This will be discussed later in this article.

Apistogramma, or Apistos as they’re affectionately nicknamed, have a semi-aggressive temperament. One of the first things you’ll notice about these species is how curious they are! They’re very curious and can come up to you as soon as they see the tank walls. They are very attentive and will interact with their owners. This species is the opposite of fish swimming. They’ll spot you immediately.

Apistos are an excellent choice for a community tank. They’ll live on the bottom of the tank, so they’ll do well with any species that doesn’t take up the valuable ‘floor space’ down there. Apistos enjoy having their own territory. We’d recommend probably putting them with tetras, pencil fish, or another species that likes to swim in the middle or towards the top of the tank.

Facts About Apistogramma

These fish grow to be about 3″ and 3.5″ maximum in size. They are native to South America and the Amazon rainforest. A tank that is at least 20 gallons in size is required for them. They prefer neutral pH water, and do not require low pH. The water should be between 72 and 86 degrees. They do prefer planted groupings in the tank, too.

These fish are not expensive and usually run for about $12 for more common color varieties all the way up to hundreds of dollars for a wild caught version. They are best when they are fed live food like BBS (baby-blue shrimp), glassworms, larvae and other types ofworms.

Apistos are fun and easy to breed. They are an egg layer. A cave should be placed in the tank to allow the females to spawn there.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of fish ownership is looking at all the color variations to see which one you like best before purchasing. With this species, there’s a distinct color difference between the sexes. Females are more color-oriented than males. You can easily tell them apart.

Most common color variations

Apistogramma cacatuoides

The cacatuoides are the most popular color version, so you’ll find those in many aquarium stores and pet shops. These fish are often found in the Orange Flash variety. They have a distinctive horizontal stripe running along their bodies with bright orange tail and top fins. This same species can be found in bright red versions known as the “Super Red”. They have striped bodies and red fins that look like race cars.

Apistogramma borellii

They are also known by the Umbrella Cichlid. They are pale to medium blue with some dark speckling around the body. The tail fins and top fins are lemon yellow. They are delicate and beautiful in color.

Apistogramma trifasciata

Trifasciata’s “tri” stands for “three”, and this is the Apisto three-striped variation. They do have dark, striking horizontal stripes along the body and vibrant blue fins. These fish are a great choice to be the centerpiece of a tank or to be the show-stopper fish.

Happy Apistogramma Care

Whichever color variety that you choose, we’re confident you’ll enjoy having this smart, personable, and beautiful cichlid for many years to come.