Photo: Guérin Nicolas ( messages ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
7.5 cm
Adult size
70 L
Minimum volume
4
Minimum group
5 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Apistogramma
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- harem
In the wild
Overview
One of the best-known Apistogramma, described in 1875 and named after the naturalist Louis Agassiz. The genus, one of the richest among South American cichlids, has about 70 described species; many colourful varieties of A. agassizii have been bred for the hobby.
- Scientific name
- Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875)
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Amazon basin, from Peru to Brazil (Amazon–Solimões river as far as the Capim basin)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in slow tributaries, oxbows and creeks where leaf litter piles up, in black, white or clear water depending on place and season.
Behaviour
Aquarium-bred fish suit a community tank; wild ones are kept alone or with small midwater fish such as Nannostomus, without other Apistogramma. Keep one male with several females; the female lays her eggs on the ceiling of a cave and cares for eggs and larvae alone. Mostly carnivorous, it needs live or frozen prey.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth