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
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
A peaceful dwarf cichlid that holds the middle and lower water and claims a small territory near the bottom. A single pair needs at least 75 liters, with caves and plants to break up sightlines. Feed a mix of quality pellets and frozen or live foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. It is calm enough for a community with small tetras and other gentle fish, though it gets protective when breeding.
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. Tannin-stained, soft, slightly acidic water suits it. Set up the tank with a sandy bottom, driftwood, leaf litter, and some flat stones or caves, and keep flow gentle. Floating plants to dim the light help it settle in and color up better.
Good to know
This is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 5.5 cm. It is a substrate-spawning cichlid, laying eggs on a flat surface and forming a pair that both guard the eggs and fry. It does best in warm water, from the low to high 20s C, and a pH on the soft, acidic side.
Did you know
The pair forms a strong bond and works together raising the young, herding the free-swimming fry around the tank and guiding them back toward cover when something gets too close.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
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.
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)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Amazon molly
Poecilia formosa
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Tailspot cory
Hoplisoma caudimaculatum
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–81°F (20–27°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.
How big does a Dwarf flag cichlid get?
An adult Dwarf flag cichlid reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
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
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Thayer's dwarf acara
Laetacara thayeri
4.7 in (12 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)81–86°F (27–30°C)Blue ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
2.4 in (6 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
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)