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: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Mamore drainage, Beni, Bolivia
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A pair or trio fits 60 liters with cover. It is among the easier rare apistos: it accepts frozen and small dry foods quickly, tolerates a wider pH band than blackwater specialists, and spawns in caves in typical apisto fashion with the female in charge. Small tetras from the same region make natural dithers. Give females their own caves or the male's attention becomes a problem.

In the wild

Apistogramma erythrura comes from small clearwater and mixed-water streams in Bolivia's Mamore system, where it lives over sand and leaf litter at the stream edge. It is comfortable slightly cooler than Amazon lowland species. Keep it at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, pH 5.2 to 6.8, on sand with litter, wood, and a cave for each female.

Good to know

Described by Staeck and Schindler in 2008, this Bolivian species reaches about 5.5 centimeters. The name means red tail, and males back it up with a caudal fin washed in red behind a blue-flecked body. It belongs to the trifasciata lineage, sharing that group's compact build and bold lateral stripe.

Did you know

Bolivian apistos are rare in the hobby because exports from Bolivia are rare, so most red-tails in tanks today are captive bred from a handful of imports.

Tank mates

Red-tail dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.