Apistogramma Agassizii
Apistogramma agassizii
Min Tank Size
80L
Adult Size
8.5 cm
Lifespan
4 years
About
Native to the Amazon basin, Apistogramma agassizii is one of the most recognizable dwarf cichlids in the hobby, partly because of that unmistakable spade-shaped tail that sets males apart from virtually every other Apisto. Wild populations span a huge range across Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, and captive breeding has produced several distinct color forms including Fire Red, Double Red, and Gold, each with their own following among enthusiasts.
Males reach around 8 to 9 centimeters and develop extravagant finnage as they mature. Females stay noticeably smaller, topping out around 4 to 5 centimeters, and wear a more muted yellow-and-black pattern that actually makes them quite pretty in their own right.
Water quality matters more than most beginners expect. These fish come from soft, blackwater environments with low pH, and while captive-bred individuals are more adaptable than wild-caught ones, they genuinely do best in water that leans acidic and soft. 8 with low hardness gets them colored up and confident. Filtration should keep the water clean without generating strong current since they prefer calmer conditions with leaf litter and driftwood breaking up sight lines.
Diet-wise, they're carnivores at heart. High-quality frozen foods like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp form the backbone of a good feeding routine, though most captive-bred individuals accept quality micro pellets over time.
Temperament is the thing that surprises newcomers most. They look delicate but behave like a fish twice their size when defending territory.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Apistogramma Agassizii together
Apistogramma Agassizii is strongly territorial. Multiples fight over space unless the tank is large enough for each to claim its own area. A single individual is the safer default.
Compatibility
Agassizii work well with small, peaceful fish that occupy the upper water column and don't intrude on bottom territory. Cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, and pencilfish are classic pairings. Corydoras can coexist but may get harassed near spawning sites, so give the bottom some complexity. Avoid any other bottom-dwelling cichlids, and don't add large or boisterous species that will stress them. Nano fish like celestial pearl danios can work in a well-planted setup but monitor carefully. Shrimp colonies won't survive long once the fish settle in, even if coexistence seems fine initially.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The biggest mistake beginners make is keeping agassizii in hard, alkaline tap water without conditioning it first. They survive, but they don't thrive. Color fades, spawning won't happen, and stress-related illness becomes more likely. RO water blended with tap, or active substrate like Aqua Soil, genuinely makes a difference. Secondly, people underestimate how territorial males get in undersized tanks. An 80-liter minimum is realistic for a single pair, but more space makes the dynamic much easier to manage. Feed variety and avoid a diet of dry food alone.
Behavior & Aggression
Aggression in agassizii is almost entirely territory-driven and becomes most intense during spawning. Males will relentlessly chase and injure other males, and in small tanks a single dominant male will also stress females that aren't ready to breed. Females become fiercely protective of eggs and fry, sometimes redirecting aggression toward the male himself post-spawning. The best way to manage this is through tank layout: caves, dense planting, and broken sightlines give subordinate fish somewhere to escape. Two males in the same tank is asking for trouble unless the setup is genuinely large.
Things to Know
- Males are intensely territorial, keep only one male unless tank is 150L+
- Keep 1 male to 2-3 females to spread aggression
- Will eat small shrimp including juveniles
- Softer, more acidic water dramatically improves color and breeding success
- Males are highly aggressive towards other males.
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