Elizabeth's dwarf cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

A pair needs a tank of at least 75 liters at 24 to 29 C and pH 4.0 to 6.0, with very soft, tannin-stained water. Provide caves, leaf litter, and dense cover. Feed small live and frozen foods. It is mostly peaceful but sensitive, and fry only survive in very soft, acidic water.

In the wild

Apistogramma elizabethae lives in the lower Rio Uaupes and Rio Icana in the upper Rio Negro system of northwestern Brazil. It occupies true blackwater leaf-litter creeks that are very soft and acidic. This is a demanding blackwater specialist. It needs mature, very soft, acidic water to survive and breed.

Good to know

Apistogramma elizabethae was described by Kullander in 1980 and carries the code A208. Males reach about 5 cm, and the shape of the male tail fin changes with age from rounded to a long spade shape. Most fish in the trade are wild imports rather than tank-bred.

Common questions

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