TankBud

Blue-cheek dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma eunotus

Also known as Eunotus apisto, High-back apisto, Blue cheek apisto

FreshwaterFish

Blue-cheek dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma eunotus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.6 in
6.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Ucayali and Amazon tributaries in Peru, into the Yavari and Japura systems

Overview

The blue-cheek dwarf cichlid is one of the best first rare apistos, and it spends its days near the bottom of the tank. It is a good next step after the easiest community fish.

Did you know

The blue-cheek dwarf cichlid shrugs off harder water than most of its genus. That makes it the apisto that often works in tanks where blackwater species would sulk.

Caring for the blue-cheek dwarf cichlid

A pair of blue-cheek dwarf cichlids needs a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). A harem needs a bigger footprint, with a cave for each female. Furnish the tank with sand, leaf litter and caves.

Hold the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. This robust fish is forgiving in captivity, and it even breeds in ordinary soft tap water. It takes prepared foods without fuss.

The blue-cheek holds its own alongside peaceful tetras and corys. Breeding is moderately tricky. The female guards the brood in her cave, then shepherds the fry across the floor for weeks.

Good to know

Apistogramma eunotus was described by Kullander in 1981, and the name means well-backed, for the tall body males develop. Males also wear turquoise cheeks and an orange-edged tail. The species is the namesake of the eunotus complex, a cluster of stocky Peruvian species told apart by cheek pattern and tail shape.

In the wild

The blue-cheek dwarf cichlid is a widespread Peruvian apisto of the Ucayali and upper Amazon drainages. It lives along quiet stream margins and in pools, usually over mud or sand with leaf litter. Unlike the blackwater specialists, it often lives in near-neutral water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue-cheek 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 blue-cheek dwarf cichlid need?

A blue-cheek dwarf cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a blue-cheek dwarf cichlid need?

A blue-cheek dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a blue-cheek dwarf cichlid eat?

A blue-cheek dwarf cichlid takes prepared foods without fuss.

How big does a blue-cheek dwarf cichlid get?

An adult blue-cheek dwarf cichlid reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

How does a blue-cheek dwarf cichlid breed?

A blue-cheek dwarf cichlid spawns in a cave, and it breeds even in ordinary soft tap water. The female guards the brood, then shepherds the fry across the floor for weeks.

Related species