Double red Agassizi Dwarf Cichlid Agassiz’s Apisto is found across a broad range, thriving in the slow-moving, shallow blackwater streams and tributaries of the Amazon River basin. Its habitat stretches from the Rio Ucayali basin in Peru, through the Rio Solimões, and eastward to the Rio Capim, a tributary of the Guamá River in Brazil. In many areas, the bottom is covered with leaf litter. For a home aquarium, it’s essential to provide soft, acidic water that is biologically mature before introducing these fish. A dark substrate and lush plant life are ideal, offering plenty of hiding spots and territories among rocks, driftwood, and coconut shells. Adding floating plants can help soften the light. Using peat filtration and incorporating dried Indian Almond Leaves (Terminalia catappa) can create the preferred environment, and it’s important to have a secure tank cover since these fish are known to jump. Filtration should be effective but gentle, and regular partial water changes are necessary to keep nitrate levels low. A. agassizii are typically peaceful but can become territorial during breeding. It’s best to keep either a single pair or, in larger tanks, one male with several females to form a harem. The females will establish their own territories, highlighting the need for plenty of visual barriers in the tank. Suitable tankmates include Corydoras catfish, hatchetfish, pencilfish, small tetras, and suckermouth catfish. Like many Apistogramma species, A. agassizii cannot tolerate high nitrate levels, making regular water changes crucial for their health. This species may also be marketed as Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid, with various tank-bred color forms available, such as ‘double red’, ‘fire red’, ‘gold’, ‘red’, and ‘super red’, alongside numerous wild variants like ‘Alenquer’, ‘Cuipeua’, ‘Santarem’, and ‘Tefe’. Picture is of the fish in stock All size approx
