Masked dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma personata

Also known as Uaupes masked apisto

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–84°F (25–29°C)
pH: 4.5–6.2
Adult size: 2.6 in (6.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 16 gal (60 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Rio Uaupes basin, upper Rio Negro drainage, Brazil
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

Treat it as an expert blackwater project: a dedicated pair tank of 60 liters or more, near-rainwater chemistry, litter everywhere, and live or frozen foods as the staple. Tankmates, if any, should be tiny Negro-basin schoolers. Cave spawns need very acidic soft water to develop, and pairs may take months to settle before attempting one.

In the wild

A blackwater species of the Rio Uaupes in the upper Rio Negro system, living over litter and sand in hot, extremely soft, acidic water. Its tank should read like a Negro tributary: deep leaf cover, wood, dim light, and water at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius with pH 4.5 to 6.2 and minimal hardness.

Good to know

Kullander described Apistogramma personata in 1980 from the Uaupes; the name means masked, for the heavy dark face marking males carry. It is a large-cheeked, robust species around 6.5 centimeters that remained essentially unavailable to hobbyists for decades after description, with only occasional exports from the region.

Did you know

For most of the years since its 1980 description this apisto existed for hobbyists only as a black-masked photo in cichlid atlases; live imports remain events.

Tank mates

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