Scientific Name(s): Apistogramma Agassizii

Common Name(s): Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid

Origin: Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: South American Dwarf Cichlid

Maximum Size: Males 3” (7.5cm) and Female 1.5” (3.75cm)

Life Span: 4 Years

Natural Habitat: Slow flowing backwaters of the amazon, they are never found in the main channels due to their size, they are usually found in and amungst leaf litter.

Diet: A varied diet is required, as with all fish, of high quality flakes, frozen foods, live foods, and on rare occasions a blanched skinned pea.

Temperature: 77-84°F (25-29°C).They do prefer the higher end of this scale.

PH: 5-7 They generally need 6.5 or lower to breed

Minimum Tank Size: 5 Gal. (19L.) is acceptable for a single, but for Pairs and trios a 10 Gal. (38L.) I required

Tank Region:Bottom to middle, generally not swimming higher then the plant, décor ect.

Temperament: Sometimes shy, can become moderately aggressive if adiquite space is not provided and if it is breeding.

Possible Tank Mates: Fits well with most fish, should not be placed with large aggressive cichlids and preditory catfishes. Works well in a community setting as long as hiding spaces are provided.

Filtration and Setup:Agassi's require good water quality, a weekly water change of 25% or more should be performed. Plants and caves should be provided to give added security and lessen the stress of the fish. Small substrate is ideal as these fish may dig or move debre out of there chosen dwelling.

Coloration:Coloration is greatly varied, in the petstore these fish will seem pale and dull as far as color is concerned. Once thesee fish are home and adapted to your tank they begin to show their colors. Colors consist of white, black, and sometimes brown horizonal stripes on their bodies. Males fins are bright red, orange and yellow. Whereas female tend to be more yellow and brown.

Breeding:Although it can be bred in pairs you have a much better chance of obtaining a spawn if several females and a single male are used. There are a number of triggers which are commonly used to induce Apistogramma agassizii spawning. Lowering the pH of the aquarium water below 6 and raising the temperature to 82 - 88°F (28 - 31°C) are two of the best ways to induce spawning, after conditioning the fish on a varied diet of live and frozen foods. The female leads the spawning procedure by cleaning a cave. She will then start displaying to the male, swimming at different angles. The male fish will then follow the female fish, and if she is happy with him, she will lay eggs for him to fertilize. Around 150 eggs will be laid, at which point the male will be chased away from the eggs. In the wild, the male agassizii will guard the territory around the cave but in a tank the female may become extremely aggressive with the male, scaring him into a small area of the tank. Fry hatch in 2-3 days and are free swimming in a weeks time. After a 14 day period both parent should be removed from the tank, they may begin to snack on their fry. Babies can be fed crushed flakes, dissolving shrimp pellets or infusoria.