Apistogramma agassizii Alenquer Red Tail

Apistogramma agassizii Alenquer Red Tail is a colourful aquarium form of Apistogramma agassizii, a South American dwarf cichlid associated with warm, soft and acidic waters. “Alenquer Red Tail” is the trade/locality-form wording used for this stock; it should not be read as proof that every fish is a wild-collected Alenquer specimen.

This listing currently offers supplied-size variants. Choose the live size option when ordering. The variants do not currently specify sex, so the product should be treated as unsexed unless the selected variant explicitly states otherwise. Do not assume that buying two fish guarantees a compatible male/female pair.

What you are buying

• Scientific name: Apistogramma agassizii
• Trade form: Alenquer Red Tail
• FishBase maximum in its species record: 4.4 cm standard length
• Important size note: standard length excludes the tail fin, so aquarium total-length figures can appear larger
• Temperature: warm tropical water, roughly 25–29°C
• pH: soft acidic to near-neutral conditions, roughly 5.0–7.0
• Temperament: dwarf cichlid; usually manageable in a planned community but territorial around caves and breeding
• Diet: small omnivore/micro-predator with a strong preference for animal-based foods

Adult size: why different sources give different numbers

FishBase records A. agassizii at 4.4 cm standard length. Standard length is measured to the base of the tail rather than the end of the caudal fin. Aquarium sources often quote larger figures because they use total length, include extended fins, or refer to selectively bred males.

For this reason we do not present “7.5 cm” as a FishBase maximum. The useful planning message is that this is a small dwarf cichlid, but mature males can look noticeably longer and more substantial than females.

Appearance and the Alenquer Red Tail form

Apistogramma agassizii is a variable species complex with numerous locality and aquarium colour forms. Alenquer Red Tail fish are selected for stronger red/orange colour through the caudal fin and body while retaining the elongated dwarf-cichlid shape and dark lateral markings associated with the species.

Colour varies with sex, maturity, hierarchy, stress and genetics. Juveniles may look much plainer than mature display males, so the product photograph should be treated as representative rather than a guarantee of one exact colour pattern.

Aquarium setup

Use a mature planted aquarium with a gentle footprint, several visual barriers and more caves than territorial fish. Fine sand, leaf litter, wood and shaded planting create a suitable lower-level habitat and give subordinate fish places to move out of sight.

For a single fish or carefully managed pair-sized setup, our house planning starts around 60 litres, with more space strongly preferred for a community or multiple dwarf cichlids. Floor area and the number of separate cave territories matter more than height.

Water parameters

Warm, clean, stable water is essential. A practical aquarium range is around 25–29°C and pH 5.0–7.0, with soft to moderately soft water. FishBase records A. agassizii from warm acidic conditions; captive forms may tolerate a somewhat broader range, but sudden chemistry changes are still poor husbandry.

Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero. If your tap water is hard and alkaline, test it before buying rather than relying on generic “community fish” assumptions. Any use of RO water should be accompanied by a controlled remineralisation plan rather than using pure RO water without minerals.

Feeding

Use a high-quality small cichlid or micro-predator pellet/granule as the staple, supplemented with appropriately sized frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops or small bloodworm. Variety helps maintain condition and natural feeding behaviour.

Make sure food reaches the lower levels. In a community tank, fast tetras or livebearers can take most of the meal before an Apistogramma has a chance to feed.

Behaviour and territory

Apistogramma are small but they are still cichlids. A settled fish may defend a cave or section of the substrate, and territorial behaviour can increase sharply during spawning. The aquarium should contain several routes around hardscape so another fish can retreat without being trapped.

Sex ratio should not be guessed from a product quantity. If you specifically need a male, female or breeding pair, use only a variant or supplier confirmation that explicitly provides that information.

Tank mates

Good companions are peaceful small-to-medium fish that tolerate the same warm, softer water and spend most of their time away from the bottom territory. Small tetras and pencilfish can work well in an appropriately sized aquarium.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, large predators, persistent fin nippers and crowded combinations of multiple cave-dwelling species. Dwarf shrimp and very small fry may be treated as food.

Before ordering

Choose Alenquer Red Tail Apistogramma agassizii if you have a mature warm aquarium with stable softer water, caves and a deliberate plan for territorial behaviour. Reconsider if the aquarium is newly cycled, strongly alkaline without a measured plan, or already crowded with other bottom-territorial cichlids.

Use the live Shopify variant for current supplied size, price and availability. This description separates verified species facts from trade-form wording so search engines and AI systems do not turn a supplier colour name into a false scientific claim.