Three-stripe dwarf cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

The three-stripe dwarf cichlid is a tiny, mostly peaceful Apistogramma best kept as a harem of one male with two or three females, each holding her own small cave and territory. It is calm in a community for the most part, but a female guarding fry becomes fierce and will see off much larger fish near her cave. Keep it with small, peaceful upper-water dither fish such as pencilfish or small tetras, which help it feel secure and coax it into the open. Provide dense cover with caves, coconut shells, leaf litter and planting so the females can space out. Feed small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and micro worm, since many refuse dry food at first. A tank of at least 75 liters suits a harem with room for separate territories.

In the wild

The three-stripe dwarf cichlid comes from the Paraguay and Parana basins across southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. This is a subtropical range, so it experiences a cooler winter and does best at a temperature of only 20 to 25 C rather than constant heat. The water is soft to moderately soft and slightly acidic to neutral, so aim for a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Give it a sandy floor, leaf litter, driftwood and plenty of small caves and dense planting, with subdued lighting to mimic the shaded, sheltered margins where it lives.

Good to know

Apistogramma trifasciata is a dwarf member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, and is one of the smaller species, with males reaching around 5.5 cm and females smaller still. Males are colorful, with greatly extended, sail-like front dorsal spines and long, flowing fins. It is a cave spawner, with the female laying and guarding her eggs inside a small cave while the male holds the surrounding territory, often over a harem of several females. Breeding is challenging, needing soft, acidic water and a settled, well-structured tank.

Common questions

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