TankBud

Martin's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma martini

Also known as Whitethroat apisto

FreshwaterFish

Martin's dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma martini)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.0–6.8
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
15 gal
55 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Forest streams of the lower Rio Tigre region, Loreto, Peru

Overview

Martin's dwarf cichlid is a delicate apisto for the bottom of a quiet tank, and it suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Male Martin's dwarf cichlids flash a white chin strap during displays. In the gloom of a leaf-litter stream, it stands out like a headlight.

Caring for the Martin's dwarf cichlid

Keep a pair of Martin's dwarf cichlids in a quiet tank of 15 gal (55 L) or more. Give them a sand base buried in leaves, twig cover and subdued light.

Soft, clean, warm water keeps this delicate species healthy. Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 6.8.

Feed small live and frozen foods, and add fine granules once the fish settle. Martin's dwarf cichlid is shy, so floating cover and calm micro tank mates, or none at all, bring it out.

Females spawn in cavities in the leaf litter and defend tiny territories fiercely for their size. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Römer and colleagues described Martin's dwarf cichlid in 2003, and it is one of the genus's small species. It belongs to the atahualpa lineage, and males have a dusky face and a short, deep body. Like its relatives, it circulated under a hobby code before the formal description settled its identity.

In the wild

Martin's dwarf cichlid comes from small, shaded forest streams in northern Peru. It lives in the leaf-litter margins of soft, gently flowing water, and it is a litter dweller through and through.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Martin's 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 Martin's dwarf cichlid need?

A Martin's dwarf cichlid needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Martin's dwarf cichlid need?

A Martin's dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.8.

What does a Martin's dwarf cichlid eat?

A Martin's dwarf cichlid eats small live and frozen foods. Once it settles, it takes fine granules too.

How big does a Martin's dwarf cichlid get?

An adult Martin's dwarf cichlid reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How does a Martin's dwarf cichlid breed?

A Martin's dwarf cichlid spawns in cavities in the leaf litter. The female defends a tiny territory fiercely for her size, and breeding is hard.

Related species