Difficult
Protopterus annectens
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
£62.99
A beautifully patterned Rio Madeira dwarf cichlid that rewards aquarists with fascinating behavior and stunning color in a soft-water planted setup. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 25-29C, pH 5.5-7.0.
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 agassizii
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
A beautifully patterned Rio Madeira dwarf cichlid that rewards aquarists with fascinating behavior and stunning color in a soft-water planted setup. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 25-29C, pH 5.5-7.0.
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
This is the Rio Madeira locality of Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma agas. rio madeira), a regional form named for the great Madeira River of the Amazon basin. Each A. agassizii locality carries its own character, and this one offers the elegant lines and engaging manner that make the species a long-standing favourite, growing to a useful 7 cm.
Warm, soft, acidic water is the foundation of good keeping here. Hold the pH between 5.5 and 7.0 with hardness kept low at 0-10 dGH, and run the tank a touch warmer at 25-29°C. A minimum of 75 litres gives a planted set-up the space a male needs to hold a territory and a settled pair to display naturally, with driftwood and shaded cover doing much of that work.
It is a carnivore that feeds best on small meaty frozen and live foods presented low in the tank, where it forages along the substrate as a bottom-dweller. Behaviour is semi-aggressive and it can become territorial, so a roomy, well-structured aquarium keeps the peace and lets its personality shine without friction between individuals. At a touch larger than many of its cousins it makes a particularly bold display fish for the genus, holding its ground with character. Ease new arrivals into your parameters gradually so they take up a territory and feed with confidence, and keep the layout broken up with cover so individuals can keep a respectful distance; a well-conditioned fish settled into stable, soft water shows the cleanest lines and the most assured behaviour.
Pair it with peaceful small tetras, rasboras, otocinclus, small peaceful pencilfish and other non-territorial midwater fish in suitably large tanks. Steer clear of large aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping fish, very boisterous community species, large predators and other territorial dwarf cichlids in small tanks. Your Rio Madeira dwarf cichlid is delivered by a licensed live-animal courier and covered by our live arrival guarantee.
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