Difficult
Protopterus annectens
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
£62.99
Orange strain of the Banded Dwarf Cichlid for soft, warm water. Around 3.5 cm, moderate care, best with peaceful Amazonian tankmates.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Apistogramma bitaeniata
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Orange strain of the Banded Dwarf Cichlid for soft, warm water. Around 3.5 cm, moderate care, best with peaceful Amazonian tankmates.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Warm, soft and gently acidic — that is the water Apistogramma bitaeniata orange asks for, and keepers who provide it are rewarded with one of the most characterful dwarf cichlids South America has produced. This is the orange form of the Banded Dwarf Cichlid, a compact apisto that matures at around 3.5 cm and spends its day patrolling the lower levels of the aquarium, inspecting the substrate and keeping watch over its chosen patch of territory.
Small body, big personality. Rated semi-aggressive, this fish can turn territorial — particularly towards rival bottom-dwellers — so furnish the floor of the tank with caves, sight breaks and structure that let it hold a territory without constant disputes. Aim to give it the lowest level largely to itself, with the mid-water and surface left to shoaling species. The classic pairing is a quiet Amazonian community: small peaceful tetras, rasboras, Corydoras catfish, Otocinclus and gentle pencilfish all make sensible neighbours. Large aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, very active boisterous fish and big predators belong nowhere near it, and squeezing several territorial dwarf cichlids into a small footprint is asking for trouble.
Feeding follows its nature as a carnivore, and the water must stay warm even by tropical standards: 26–30 °C, with a pH of 5.0–6.5 and hardness from 0–10 dGH. A 40-litre aquarium is the workable minimum for this bottom-dweller, and with moderate-level attention a healthy specimen should live in the region of five years.
Choose this orange strain when you want true apisto behaviour without the space demands of larger cichlids — a soft-water 40-litre-plus setup with one territory per fish is the formula that works. Check your tankmates against the lists above before ordering, keep the heater set high, and your new arrival will settle quickly. Every order travels with our live arrival guarantee, carried by a licensed live-animal courier.
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
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22–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 150L
23–27°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 80L
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23–28°C · pH 6–7.5 · 80L