Paul Mueller's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma paulmuelleri

Also known as Glitter-face apisto

FreshwaterFish

Paul Mueller's dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma paulmuelleri) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 5.0–6.8
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 16 gal (60 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Amazon lowland streams south of Iquitos, Loreto, Peru
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

Keep a pair in a quiet 60-liter blackwater-leaning setup. It takes small frozen foods well and dry food occasionally. Shyness is the main challenge; the fish rewards heavy cover and calm neighbors by showing its glitter. Breeding follows the cave pattern and works best in soft, slightly acidic, warm water with small, frequent feedings for the fry.

In the wild

Apistogramma paulmuelleri inhabits small lowland forest streams in the Iquitos region of Peru, in soft, gently acidic water over litter. Like its neighbors it wants a dim, structured tank: sand, leaves, wood, caves, and stable warmth at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius with pH 5.0 to 6.8.

Good to know

Described in 2013 by Römer and coauthors and named for the German biologist Paul Müller, this species reaches about 5 centimeters. Males scatter glittering blue-green scales across the face and shoulders over a soft gray body. It belongs to the same Loreto species swarm as norberti and allpahuayo, telling apart by face pattern and fin shape.

Did you know

In display light the male's face sparkles like someone dusted it with crushed glass, which is exactly how importers spot it in mixed apisto hauls.

Tank mates

Paul Mueller's dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.