Agassiz's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma agassizii, Agassiz's dwarf cichlid, is one of the most widely distributed dwarf cichlids in the Amazon basin, recorded from clear, black, and white water tributaries across Brazil, Peru, and neighbouring countries. Males grow to about 7.5 cm and carry a spade-shaped tail and trailing fins, while females stay near 5 cm. Aquarium strains have been line-bred into red, gold, and blue colour forms, but all share the same temperament and care needs.

In the aquarium this is a bottom-oriented fish that claims a small territory around a cave or root and patrols it rather than roaming open water. Captive-bred stock settles well into a soft-water community alongside small, peaceful dither fish such as pencilfish or tetras, which coax the cichlids into the open and reduce shyness. Avoid housing two males in a small tank, and do not mix it with other Apistogramma unless the aquarium is large and heavily broken up. It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates in nature, so offer live or frozen Artemia, daphnia, and bloodworm; most specimens also learn to take quality dried foods.

A planted tank from 60 litres suits a single pair, with soft, acidic water between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius, gentle filtration, and leaf litter or driftwood for cover. Agassiz's dwarf cichlid is a cave spawner: the female lays on the roof of a small cave, then guards the eggs and shepherds the free-swimming fry while the male defends the wider territory. A guarding female turns bright yellow and becomes strikingly bold for her size, so a community pair will often raise a brood without intervention.