TankBud

T-bar dwarf cichlid

Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis

Also known as Pucallpa dwarf cichlid, T-bar apisto

FreshwaterFish

T-bar dwarf cichlid (Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Ucayali basin, Peru

Overview

The t-bar dwarf cichlid is one of the smallest cichlids kept, a peaceful dwarf for the bottom of a community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The t-bar dwarf cichlid's common name comes from a small dark mark near the tail. There a horizontal stripe meets a vertical bar to form a T, the tidiest field mark on this otherwise plain little fish.

Caring for the t-bar dwarf cichlid

Keep t-bar dwarf cichlids much as you would a mild Apistogramma, as a single pair or a male with two or three females. A pair needs at least 11 gal (40 L). Give them a sandy or fine floor with a deep layer of dried leaves, small thimble-sized caves and gentle filtration. They like dense cover, including floating plants that dim the light.

Unlike some Apistogramma, it does not need extremely soft water. Aim for 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Feed small live and frozen foods like microworms, baby brine shrimp and cyclops, along with fine sinking dried foods.

The t-bar dwarf cichlid is peaceful and stays out of trouble with small, calm community fish such as pencilfish or small tetras. It is a cave spawner with a mother family. The female tends the eggs and fry, and the male helps guard the wider area once the young swim free. Breeding is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The t-bar dwarf cichlid, Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis, is the only species in its genus. It looks much like an Apistogramma but has extra hard spines in the anal fin. It carries up to about eight, where an Apistogramma has around three.

In the wild

The t-bar dwarf cichlid lives in leaf-littered backwaters and creeks of the Ucayali basin near Pucallpa in Peru. The water there is shaded, still and warm.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The t-bar dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a t-bar dwarf cichlid need?

A t-bar dwarf cichlid needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a t-bar dwarf cichlid need?

A t-bar dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

What does a t-bar dwarf cichlid eat?

A t-bar dwarf cichlid eats small live and frozen foods like microworms, baby brine shrimp and cyclops. Add fine sinking dried foods as well.

How big does a t-bar dwarf cichlid get?

An adult t-bar dwarf cichlid reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How does a t-bar dwarf cichlid breed?

The t-bar dwarf cichlid spawns in caves and has a mother family. The female tends the eggs and fry, and the male helps guard the wider area once the young swim free.

Related species