Are you looking to keep apistogramma agassizii? Why not to start with the colourful fish out there. Apistogramma agassizii is also known as ‘agassizii dwarf cichlid’. This fish found in Marnon and Ucayali rivers in Peru. The interesting point here is that this fish name after the Swiss American zoologist and geologist Louis Agassizi.
Moreover, this fish is true classic for aquarium and favorite when talks about South American fish. This fish specie is belongs to Cichlid family. This specie is commonly bred, a apistogramma is the best choice for beginners.
Apistogramma Agassizii Appearance
Apistogramma agassizii is a small sexual dimorphic territorial fish. The male fish of this specie is more colorful, larger in size and have protract fins than females. During breeding body color and fins length plays vital role, this characteristic makes male member more strong to control territory and have good quality food.
Male apistogramma are brightly colorful and of about 3 to 3.5 inches. The male fish have long dorsal fins. Whereas, females dull and smaller as compared to males are around 2 to 2.5 inches. For aquarist, this fish is attractive and intractive in behaviour.
Types of Apistos
For aquarist one of the enjoyable thing in fish keeping is their vibrant colors. There are several different types of apistos which are given below:
- Cacatuoides : also known as cockatoo dwarf cichlid available in differet shades of red and in orange Flash.
- Agassizii : comes in fire red and gold and distinguish from its rounded tail.
- Then comes Borelli: a umbrella dwarf cichlid, in blue color body with yellow fins.
- The last but not the least is Trifasciata popular because of their three black strips with blue fins.
These species of fish are easy to breed at home.
Apistogramma Agassizii Breeding
If you have any experience with freshwater fish or breeding, a apistogramma specie is commonly bred, and the best choice for beginners. This fish requires minimal mediation.
When the fish is 6 months old, breeding usually starts. The things which are noticeable for aquarist are that they should provide them with a tank plenty caves, attractive spawning sites. with a maintain pH level and soft acidic water. At the time of breeding, females chose a cave and leads male fish there. She lays eggs and takes care of it. The male fish guards the territory and he should leave the territory when he is aggressive.
This fish specie eggs hatch early than others, in 5 days. Females fish remains there to look after the fry on its own.
This undergoes four development phases for reproduction:
- Immature
- Developing
- Spawning
- And regressing.
Feeding
The apistogramma agassizii stays on balance diet to stay healthy. They eat foods that are rich in protein such as black worms and blood worms, they also should be provided with the fiber to avoid bloating. The food with fibrous comes from plant food and crustaceans like brine shrimps. Moreover, apistogramma more like to have small pellets, repsahy gel and some sinking options.
Are Apistogramma Agassizii aggressive?
However, apistogramma agassizii are quite peaceful, as they are from cichlid family they are become aggressive some times. After knowing that they become aggressive, than second question arises in your mind “when they got aggressive”?
They usually become at the territorial dispute and at the time of breeding. They become aggressive not only while establishing territory, in maintainig the territory. Male apistogramma agassizii tracking other apistos and fish when they close to territory.
Whereas, at the time of breeding, not only males but also females become extremely aggressive about their spawning site. Usually females allow male fish to track the other fish, but they also stand by there to protect their eggs by own.
How to reduce their aggression? is another question which is frequently asked. So the answer of this is that to reduce apistogramma aggression minimize the planted frames which makes them aggressive. Secondly, the acquarist should place objects like driftwood and other objects that makes places for apistogramma. This will helps them to stop seeing the whole tank.
To sum up…
Apistogramma agassizii is the best choice for the aquarists and its beginner friendly. These are territorial fish, have fascinating colors, and easy to breed. As peaceful territorial instinct to keep them one should understand their environment and their needs. With a proper tank set up, balance diet and thoughtful space management, dwarf cichlid can survive in community aquarium.
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