Two-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

The two-stripe dwarf cichlid is a small, mostly peaceful Apistogramma kept as a harem of one male with two or three females, each of which needs a cave and a patch of territory. It is generally calm in a community, but a female defending eggs or fry turns bold and will chase off far larger fish near her cave. Pair it with small, gentle upper-water fish such as pencilfish and small tetras, which act as dithers and help the cichlids relax. Set up dense cover with caves, coconut shells, leaf litter and planting so the females can hold separate territories out of each other's sight. Feed small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops. A tank of at least 75 liters suits a harem, with cover broken up to reduce conflict.

In the wild

The two-stripe dwarf cichlid lives in the western Amazon through Peru, Colombia and Brazil, in shaded forest streams and pools of warm, very soft, acidic blackwater. The water is stained dark with tannins and carries little dissolved mineral content. To keep and to breed it, use soft water with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5 and a temperature of 22 to 29 C, adding leaf litter, botanicals and driftwood to acidify and tint the tank. A sandy floor, plenty of small caves and subdued lighting help this shy fish settle and show its colors.

Good to know

Apistogramma bitaeniata is a dwarf member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, with males reaching around 7.5 cm and females smaller. Males are colorful and develop a lyre-shaped tail and long fins, and their pattern varies widely between the many known populations. It is a cave spawner, with the female laying her eggs on the roof of a small cave and guarding the fry alone while the male defends the territory around a harem of several females. Breeding is difficult, needing soft, acidic water for the eggs to develop.

Did you know

The two-stripe dwarf cichlid is named for the pair of dark stripes running along its body, an upper line and a lower one. It occurs in many regional color forms across the Amazon, so males from different rivers can look very different from one another.

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