Steindachner's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma steindachneri

Also known as Guyana apisto

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 3.1 in (8 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal drainages of Guyana and Suriname, from the Essequibo to the Corantijn
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A sturdy, old-school apisto that suits a first harem project: one male with two or three females across 75 liters or more, each female holding a cave. It eats everything from flake to frozen and spawns readily in soft, mildly acidic water. Broods are large for the genus, and females herd clouds of fry across the tank floor for weeks.

In the wild

Steindachner's apisto lives in the coastal river systems of Guyana and Suriname, in creek pools and ditches with litter, plants, and gently acidic water. It handles a range of conditions well. A 75-liter planted tank with sand, caves, and water at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius, pH 5.5 to 7.0, keeps it comfortable.

Good to know

Described by Regan in 1908 and named for the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner, this is one of the genus's early names and the classic apisto of the Guianas. Males reach about 8 centimeters with a spade tail and a heavy lateral spot. It has been bred in aquariums since at least the mid-twentieth century.

Did you know

This was one of the first apistos in the hobby, swimming in European aquariums back when the entire genus was still filed under Heros.

Tank mates

Steindachner'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.