Keeping Agassizi’s dwarf cichlid In Aquarium
Apistogramma agassizii – Agassiz dwarf cichlid : This dwarf cichlid requires an aquarium of at least 60 cm, but preferably 80 cm. Decorate the box dark with broad-leaved plants and floating plants, provide sufficient hiding places with, for example, driftwood roots or half coconuts.
Filter the water over peat. They are quite sensitive to nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium, so a regular water change is recommended, also check the water values regularly. It is a peaceful fish, but when they have a nest with fry, it is very fiercely protected. Each male has its own territory, several females can live within it, and each female has her own place within the male’s territory.
You can keep them in a couple, if the aquarium is big enough you can keep several couples.
It is a fun but demanding fish that needs good care regarding the aquarium water. They swim in the lower water layers.”
The Agassiz dwarf cichlid, blue-tailed dwarf cichlid, or red-tailed agasizii is a popular aquarium fish because of its magnificent colors.
Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids are extremely sensitive to unsuitable water parameters, medication, or chemicals.
Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids can live up to four years in optimal aquarium conditions.
What distinguishes Agassizi’s dwarf cichlid?
Its home is black water and white water biotopes in the Amazon region. It is adaptable and lives in both slow-flowing and stagnant water. There he likes to hide under stones, roots, and leaves.
The males surround themselves; while the females take care of the brood, the male guards the territory and acts aggressively against any intruder.
The appearance of Agassizi’s dwarf cichlid
The bodies of these fish are elongated and slightly indented on the sides. The heads with bulging lips are typical of perch.
The species is easy to recognize by a black line that runs from the tip of the mouth to the caudal fin. Another black line runs from the corner of the mouth, under the eye, in an arc downwards. This second line is not so clearly pronounced.
On the back, the animals are brown/yellow to blue-green. On the sides, the color goes from yellow-orange on the head to blue-green on the caudal fin. The dorsal fin is marbled black at the base, blue-green in front, and gray in the back. The hem and the drawn tip are red. The pelvic fins are saber-shaped and shine in orange-red with black rays. The pectoral fins are transparent and colorless.
Wild catches are generally more intensely colored than offspring from the aquarium. In the meantime, Agassiz dwarf cichlids of different colors have been bred. They are available with a reddish, yellow, or green base color.
Breeding Agassizi dwarf cichlids
A regular exchange of the aquarium water stimulates the reproduction of the Agassiz ‘dwarf cichlid. As a cave breeder, the female attaches 100-150 eggs to the ceiling of the spawning cave.
It does intensive brood care and ensures a constant exchange of water with fins.
The male defends the territorial boundaries, and possible predators are driven away.
After hatching, young fish are placed in a hollow in the bottom by the female until the yolk sac is used up.
The mother then leads them for a few more weeks. The young fish are fed with Artemia nauplii and infusoria.
Aquarium requirements
Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids are kept as a harem with one male and several females. Since the fish form territories close to the bottom, there must be enough space, hiding places, and caves (roots, stones, clay pipes, coconut shells, etc.) to avoid aggressiveness.
There should be a spawning den for every female, as this is where they usually hide and lay their eggs on the ceiling.
For optimal keeping conditions, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids need an aquarium tank at least 80 cm long, a water temperature of 24-28 ° C, a water hardness of 2-15 ° dGH, and a pH value of 6-7.
The background and edge of the aquarium tank should be well planted, and the substrate should consist of fine gravel or sand. Leaves and alder cones make for slightly dark, acidic water. It is recommended to use a peat filter.
Keeping this perch in the aquarium is a bit more demanding. Swarm attitude, one male with several females.
Socialization with smaller tetras or catfish, which are more on the water surface or in the central area of the pool, is possible. The fish are sensitive to unsuitable water parameters or chemicals in the water.
The ideal aquarium for Agassizi dwarf cichlids
The fisk tank should be 100 x 40 x 40 cm minimum for a male with his harem group. Each female must have her territory, including a cave.
The animals need many stones, caves, clay pipes, roots, and hiding places. It should be possible to darken some areas of the aquarium to a greater extent.
To do this, add leaves and alder cones to the water, cover the ground with a layer of sand, possibly use dark sand.
The dwarf cichlids love richly planted tanks. Above all, put the plants in the background. A good peat filter is suitable as a filter.
Gender differences
Male Agassiz dwarf cichlids are larger and more intensely colored than females. Males are easy to recognize by their lanceolate tail fins. The black longitudinal stripe is more pronounced in males.
The females are relatively inconspicuous in color and somewhat smaller than the up to 9 cm tall males. These are more colorful and have longer and more pointed fins than the females.
Water values for Agassizi dwarf cichlids
The water for your Agassiz dwarf cichlids must be soft and slightly acidic.
Temperature: 22 to 28 degrees
pH value: 5.6 to 6.9
GH: 7 to 14 °
KH: 3 to 8 °
Food and nutrition for Agassiz dwarf cichlids
The Agassiz dwarf cichlid is an omnivore and not picky about its food.
They prefer to eat live food, such as small crabs, Tubifex, and mosquito larvae.
Frozen food and dried animal food. Cichlids need both plant and animal food.
The right food for cichlids enhances the colors of this beautiful fish and increases its resistance.
The food usually contains garlic, Spirulina, and vitamin C to strengthen the health of the cichlids.
Don’t feed too much. The fish tend to overeat.
Features of Agassiz dwarf cichlids
If the Agassiz dwarf cichlid is kept in a tank with larger fish, its beautiful color fades.
Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids usually show a very peaceful behavior towards other fish. However, in aquarium tanks that are too small, females busy with brood care can kill their males.
After hatching, the young are constantly looked after by the female for the first few weeks. Young animals that have lost contact with their group or were prematurely abandoned by the mother are often adopted by other females involved in brood care.
Things To Consider Before Buying Agassiz dwarf cichlid
Agassiz dwarf cichlids are often found in the aquarium trade and specialist market and are sufficiently available.
The peaceful Agassiz ‘dwarf cichlids are demanding in keeping and therefore rather unsuitable for aquarium beginners. As omnivores, the fish should be fed varied, but not too abundantly, as they tend to overeat.
In addition to local ornamental fish dealers, a few providers also offer online trading with separate ornamental fish transport.