TankBud

Red-tail dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma erythrura

Also known as Mamore apisto

FreshwaterFish

Red-tail dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma erythrura)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.2–6.8
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Mamore drainage, Beni, Bolivia

Overview

The red-tail dwarf cichlid is among the easier rare apistos, and it keeps to the bottom of the tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Bolivian apistos like the red-tail are scarce in the hobby, because Bolivia rarely exports fish. Most red-tails in tanks today are captive bred from a handful of imports.

Caring for the red-tail dwarf cichlid

Keep a pair or a trio of red-tail dwarf cichlids in a tank of 16 gal (60 L) with cover. Set it up with sand, leaf litter and wood, and give each female a cave of her own. If the females lack caves of their own, the male's attention becomes a problem.

It is comfortable slightly cooler than the Amazon lowland species, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C). It also tolerates a wider pH band than the blackwater specialists, and a pH of 5.2 to 6.8 suits it. Feed frozen foods and small dry foods, which it accepts quickly.

The red-tail is mostly peaceful, and small tetras from its home region make natural dither fish. It spawns in caves in the typical apisto way, with the female in charge. Breeding it is moderately tricky.

Good to know

Staeck and Schindler described the red-tail dwarf cichlid in 2008. Its scientific name means red tail, and males back it up with a tail fin washed in red behind a blue-flecked body. It belongs to the trifasciata lineage and shares that group's compact build and bold lateral stripe.

In the wild

The red-tail dwarf cichlid comes from small clearwater and mixed-water streams in the Mamore system of Bolivia. It lives at the stream edge, over sand and leaf litter.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red-tail dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a red-tail dwarf cichlid need?

A red-tail dwarf cichlid needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a red-tail dwarf cichlid need?

A red-tail dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.2–6.8.

What does a red-tail dwarf cichlid eat?

A red-tail dwarf cichlid eats frozen foods and small dry foods, and it accepts them quickly.

How big does a red-tail dwarf cichlid get?

An adult red-tail dwarf cichlid reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How does a red-tail dwarf cichlid breed?

A red-tail dwarf cichlid spawns in caves in the typical apisto way, with the female in charge. Breeding it is moderately tricky.

Related species