Dwarf flag cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–82°F
- 20–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
The dwarf flag cichlid is a peaceful fish for the middle and lower water of a community tank. It is easy to keep, a good first cichlid.
Did you know
Dwarf flag cichlid pairs form a strong bond and raise their young together. They herd the free-swimming fry around the tank and guide them back toward cover when something gets too close.
Caring for the dwarf flag cichlid
Give a pair of dwarf flag cichlids at least 20 gal (75 L). Set up a sandy bottom with driftwood, leaf litter and some flat stones or caves, plus plants to break up sightlines. Keep the flow gentle, and add floating plants to dim the light, which helps the fish settle in and color up better.
Soft, slightly acidic, tannin-stained water suits it, at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed a mix of quality pellets and frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia.
It claims a small territory near the bottom. It is calm enough for a community with small tetras and other gentle fish, though it gets protective when breeding.
It is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a flat surface, and both fish of the pair guard the eggs and fry. Breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The dwarf flag cichlid, Laetacara curviceps, is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae.
In the wild
The dwarf flag cichlid comes from quiet, warm waters in Brazil, including forest streams and floodplains with leaf litter and submerged wood.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The dwarf flag cichlid is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Adolfo's cory
Hoplisoma adolfoi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Six-barred panchax
Epiplatys sexfasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a dwarf flag cichlid need?
A dwarf flag cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a dwarf flag cichlid need?
A dwarf flag cichlid is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a dwarf flag cichlid eat?
A dwarf flag cichlid eats quality pellets along with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia.
How big does a dwarf flag cichlid get?
An adult dwarf flag cichlid reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
How does a dwarf flag cichlid breed?
Dwarf flag cichlids are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a flat surface. The pair guards the eggs and fry, and breeding is moderately difficult.
Related species
1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Araguaia dwarf acara
Laetacara araguaiae
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Redbreast acara
Laetacara dorsigera
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4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Thayer's dwarf acara
Laetacara thayeri
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2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)81–86°F (27–30°C)Blue ram
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3.1 in (8 cm)45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Three-stripe dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma trifasciata
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)