- Common name
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
- Scientific name
- Apistogramma agassizii
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- Dwarf cichlids
- Environment
- Freshwater aquarium
- Origin
- Amazon basin along the Amazon–Solimões system from Peru through Brazil to the Capim River basin
- Care level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Adult size
- Up to 4.4 cm standard length documented; aquarium males may approach about 7–8 cm total length and females are smaller
- Expected lifespan
- Plan for about 3–5 years; verified lineage, stable soft water and breeding aggression can materially affect survival.
- Minimum housing
- At least 100 L with a 75 cm footprint for a compatible pair; 150 L or more for a harem or community
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 5.0–7.0
- Hardness / minerals
- 0–12 °dH (0–214 mg/L as CaCO₃)
- Salinity
- Freshwater; 0 ppt routine salinity
- Lighting
- Subdued to moderate with shaded cover
- Placement / zone
- Bottom and lower water
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult agassiz's dwarf cichlid group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle, with leaf-litter and cave zones protected from direct jets where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
Identity and search names
Single-species profile for Apistogramma agassizii. Preserve permanent AquaNexus ID 16, slug agassiz-s-dwarf-cichlid and route species/agassiz-s-dwarf-cichlid/index.html; retain former combinations, locality labels and trade names only as searchable aliases.
Search names: Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid, Agassiz dwarf cichlid, Agassizi apisto
Environment and housing
Fine sand, leaf litter, wood, plants, shaded areas and several caves separated by broken sight lines
Social structure: A compatible pair in the minimum setup; a harem requires one separated cave territory per female plus escape routes
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Small aquatic invertebrates, frozen foods and appropriately sized prepared foods
Feeding routine: One or two small varied meals daily; confirm females and subordinate fish feed
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Cave spawner; the female attaches eggs to the cave roof or wall
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Single-species profile for Apistogramma agassizii. Preserve permanent AquaNexus ID 16, slug agassiz-s-dwarf-cichlid and route species/agassiz-s-dwarf-cichlid/index.html; retain former combinations, locality labels and trade names only as searchable aliases.
- Adult size and space
- Expected adult size: Up to 4.4 cm standard length documented; aquarium males may approach about 7–8 cm total length and females are smaller. Minimum permanent housing: At least 100 L with a 75 cm footprint for a compatible pair; 150 L or more for a harem or community. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression, oxygen demand and waste production rather than sale size.
- Social structure
- A compatible pair in the minimum setup; a harem requires one separated cave territory per female plus escape routes
- Swimming zone or placement
- Primary zone: Bottom and lower water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding, refuge and escape.
- Feeding ecology
- Small aquatic invertebrates, frozen foods and appropriately sized prepared foods
- Feeding plan
- One or two small varied meals daily; confirm females and subordinate fish feed
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–28 °C; pH 5.0–7.0; hardness or minerals: 0–12 °dH (0–214 mg/L as CaCO₃); salinity: Freshwater; 0 ppt routine salinity. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact value.
- Habitat structure
- Fine sand, leaf litter, wood, plants, shaded areas and several caves separated by broken sight lines
- Compatibility plan
- Calm tank mates that do not invade caves or dominate bottom feeding; avoid aggressive cichlids and frantic feeders
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Cave spawner; the female attaches eggs to the cave roof or wall Parental care: The female tends eggs and fry while the male usually defends the wider territory.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine new livestock in a separate cycled system for at least 30 days. Observe appetite, respiration, waste, skin, fins and behaviour; use dedicated equipment and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
- Welfare checks
- Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding, and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Apistogramma agassizii is a geographically variable species complex. Preserve locality labels and do not cross wild-origin lines or force incompatible pairs.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
- Main risk
- Apistogramma agassizii is a geographically variable species complex. Preserve locality labels and do not cross wild-origin lines or force incompatible pairs.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult agassiz's dwarf cichlid group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. Waste load is modest, but territorial load rises sharply during breeding and fry care.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult agassiz's dwarf cichlid group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle, with leaf-litter and cave zones protected from direct jets where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not accept persistent ammonia or nitrite, oxygen distress, starvation, chronic aggression or inadequate adult space. Different equipment, stocking or maintenance methods may be used only when measured water quality and adult welfare remain equivalent or better. Do not combine locality forms casually or allow a dominant fish to trap a subordinate away from caves, food or refuge.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Calm tank mates that do not invade caves or dominate bottom feeding; avoid aggressive cichlids and frantic feeders
Welfare: Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding, and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Apistogramma agassizii is a geographically variable species complex. Preserve locality labels and do not cross wild-origin lines or force incompatible pairs.
Main warning: Apistogramma agassizii is a geographically variable species complex. Preserve locality labels and do not cross wild-origin lines or force incompatible pairs.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.