Apistogramma Macmasteri
Apistogramma macmasteri
Min Tank Size
80L
Adult Size
8 cm
Lifespan
4 years
About
Collected from the llanos and foothills of Colombia, Apistogramma macmasteri is one of the more forgiving Apistos you'll encounter, tolerating a wider pH and hardness range than most of its relatives. Males are genuinely striking, with electric blue spangling across the flanks, a strong red flush on the gill covers, and a lyretail that develops real presence once a fish matures. The Super Red and Red Neck variants push that red coloration to an almost absurd degree.
Females are smaller and drabber in their standard form but shift into vivid yellow when guarding a spawn. Tank setup matters a lot with this species. Lots of caves, coconut shells, driftwood, and broken sightlines keep territorial disputes from escalating.
A heavily planted tank with a sand or fine gravel substrate lets them dig and explore naturally. 5 works, though spawning success tends to improve toward the softer, more acidic end. Temperature around 25 to 27 degrees keeps them active and healthy.
Diet should lean heavily on protein. Frozen bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, and high-quality micro pellets keep them in good condition. Dried flake alone won't cut it long term.
Males can reach around 8 cm, females stay closer to 4 to 5 cm. For a small, colorful centerpiece with real personality, macmasteri is one of the easiest entry points into the Apistogramma genus.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Apistogramma Macmasteri together
Apistogramma Macmasteri 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
A. macmasteri works well with peaceful mid and upper water column fish that don't compete for cave territory. Small tetras like ember tetras, neon tetras, or rummy-nose are classic partners. Corydoras work fine on the bottom provided the tank is large enough that the cories aren't constantly wandering through the Apisto's core territory. Avoid other bottom-dwellers that are similarly cave-seeking, like kribs or other dwarf cichlids, unless the tank is quite large. Do not keep with dwarf shrimp, they will be eaten. Avoid fin-nipping species like tiger barbs, as macmasteri males have flowing finnage that can attract attention.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common beginner mistake is keeping a male-only setup and wondering why the fish never looks its best. Males color up and behave more naturally when females are present. Skipping caves is another issue, these fish need shelter and claim it as their own. Without structure the male will stress or become relentlessly aggressive. Water quality matters more than chasing extreme softness. Regular water changes and stable parameters will outperform trying to hit a perfect pH with inconsistent maintenance. Feed varied protein-rich foods and you'll get full color and conditioning within a few months.
Behavior & Aggression
Most of the aggression in this species is territorial and context-driven rather than random. Males will posture hard against other males and similar-looking fish, especially in tight spaces. The real intensity kicks in during breeding, when females guarding eggs or fry become surprisingly bold, going after fish much larger than themselves. That maternal aggression can stress or injure slow-moving tankmates that wander too close to a spawning cave. Providing multiple caves and broken lines of sight prevents males from holding each other in prolonged standoffs. Aggression toward unrelated species is generally low when conditions give everyone enough room.
Things to Know
- Males are territorial with conspecifics, keep only 1 male per tank unless large
- Breeding females become highly aggressive, can injure or kill tankmates
- Keep 1 male to 2-3 females to distribute aggression
- Will eat small shrimp and fry of other species
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