Fairy dwarf cichlid
Biotoecus opercularis
Also known as Fairy cichlid, Rio Negro dwarf cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–86°F
- 25–30°C
- pH
- 4.0–6.5
- Adult size
- 1.6 in
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Middle and lower Amazon basin of Brazil, in shallow sandy blackwater with leaf litter and submerged wood.
Overview
A pair needs a mature tank of at least 75 liters at 25 to 30 C and pH 4.0 to 6.5, with very soft, clean water. Provide fine sand, leaf litter, and small caves. Feed tiny live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp and micro worms. It is peaceful and shy and must not share space with boisterous fish.
In the wild
The fairy dwarf cichlid lives in the middle and lower Amazon basin of Brazil, including the Rio Negro and several clearwater tributaries. It occupies shallow sandy blackwater with leaf litter and submerged wood. This is a tiny, delicate fish that needs very soft, acidic water. It must go into a mature, stable tank, never a new setup.
Good to know
Biotoecus opercularis was described by Steindachner in 1875 and stays under about 4 cm, one of the smallest New World cichlids. Unusually for a small South American cichlid, both parents share care of the brood. It is extremely sensitive to declining water quality.
Did you know
It is so sensitive to water quality that it is one of the harder dwarf cichlids to keep alive, let alone breed.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Fairy dwarf cichlid is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Brilliant rasbora
Rasbora einthovenii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Six-barred panchax
Epiplatys sexfasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Amanda Jane's cory
Brochis amandajanea
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Fairy dwarf cichlid need?
A Fairy dwarf cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Fairy dwarf cichlid need?
A Fairy dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 77–86°F (25–30°C) with a pH of 4.0–6.5.
How big does a Fairy dwarf cichlid get?
An adult Fairy dwarf cichlid reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Related species
2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Branco dwarf cichlid
Biotoecus dicentrarchus
2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Amazon sail-fin dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma pertensis
2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Blackstripe dwarf cichlid
Taeniacara candidi
1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Double-stripe dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma diplotaenia
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Martin's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma martini
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)T-bar dwarf cichlid
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis
1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)