Uaupes dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma uaupesi

Also known as Rotkeil apisto, Red-wedge apisto

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 79–86°F (26–30°C)
pH: 4.0–5.8
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 15 gal (55 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Rio Uaupes and upper Rio Negro blackwaters, Brazil
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A blackwater specialist for keepers who enjoy chemistry: reverse osmosis water, botanicals, and patience are standard equipment. Keep a pair in 55 liters or more with tiny or no tankmates, and feed small live and frozen foods. Spawning only succeeds near the acidic extreme, and the tiny fry want infusoria first. In return you get one of the prettiest small cichlids in the Amazon.

In the wild

A true upper Rio Negro blackwater fish, Apistogramma uaupesi lives in water the color of strong tea with pH readings that can start with a 4. It shelters in leaf litter over white sand. The tank should match: sand, deep litter, botanicals, dim light, and hot, extremely soft water at 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, pH 4.0 to 5.8.

Good to know

Described by Kullander in 1980, this small species of about 4 centimeters is famous in the hobby as the Rotkeil, the red wedge, for the triangle of red in the male's tail. Wild males vary from smoke gray to violet depending on river and mood. Few apistos come from more acidic water; its home streams are among the softest habitats fish live in anywhere.

Did you know

Its wild water is often more acidic than black coffee, and the fish is so at home there that eggs refuse to develop in anything gentler.

Tank mates

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