Agassizi’s dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizi
Category:
South American dwarf cichlids
Distribution/origin:
South America, Amazon region..
Size male/female :
Male 9cm, Female 6cm.
Gender specifics:
Males :bluey/grey on the top and bottom, with a darker
longitudinal stripe than the female, which tapers towards the tail, colouration of its fins
varies from a vivid red to a paler orangey yellow, dependant on colour variant, the most
striking feature of the male colouration is the almost fluorescent turquoise patterning on
the head and body, especially visible under a UV lamp. The male will grow to around
9cm.
Females: yellow in colour, with a black diagonal stripe
below the eye and a black spot on the side of the body, this may show as a longitudinal
line when ready to spawn, its fins are somewhat shorter, rounder and more uniform in
colour than the males. The female will only grow to 6cm.
Water temperature:
23-29°C
Water Parameters:
pH 5-7.
GH 5.
Behaviour:
A. agassizi is a peaceful, but territorial species that
will not harm plants
Water region:
Middle to bottom.
Difficulty:
Moderate -Difficult.
Possible tank mates:
Corydoras, tetras, pencilfish, hatchet fish, killifish
In the aquarium
Apistogramma agassizi are not a beginner's Apistogramma, though if you can keep the
water soft and acidic whilst maintaining regular water changes, they can be an easy fish
to look after and breed.
Wild-caught specimens are more delicate than tank bred fish.