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Genus

Apistogramma

Species
27
Photographed
26 of 27
Difficulty rated
27 of 27
Adult male specimen; origin unspecified.

Apistogramma agassiziiAgassizi's Dwarf Cichlid

Steindachner, 1875

Max length
♂ 75 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 3.0 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
3.0–4.0

Numerous ornamental forms of this species have been selectively-bred for the aquarium trade, some of which include. It has also been assigned the 'A' number A234 under the DATZ system with possibly conspecific, related forms similarly numbered A235, A236, A237, A238, A239, A240, A241 and A242 depending on locality. The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition ...

Moderate

Apistogramma alacrinaRedspot Dwarf Cichlid

Kullander, 2004

Max length
♂ 55 · ♀ 37mm SL♂ 2.2 · ♀ 1.5in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
4.0–7.0

This species differs from all other described members of the genus by the presence of dark blotches at the dorsal and ventral base of the pectoral fins. Three very similar-looking fishes have been assigned the codes A106, A107 and A108 under the DATZ system and are also known in the aquarium hobby as A. sp. 'rotpunkt' (this form has been in the hobby for decades with its precise origin unclear), A. sp. 'rotpunkt Orteguazas' (the paratype form of A. alacrina) and A. sp. 'rotpunkt Guayas', respectively. It remains to be seen whether they're conspecific with A. alacrina or not since they exhibit some differences in colour pattern and morphology.

Easy
Adult male specimen from the U.S. aquarium trade.

Apistogramma baenschiA188

Römer, Hahn, Römer, Soares & Wöhler, 2004

Max length
♂ 55 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.2 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
80 × 30cm31 × 12in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
4.0–6.5

This species is assigned the code A188 under the DATZ system and is also known by the trade names A. sp. 'Inca/Inka', A. sp. 'Inka 50', A. sp. 'highfin nijsseni', A. sp. 'Nijsseni 2', A. sp. 'red crescent' or A. baenschi 'Inca'. It's among those members of the genus produced on a commercial basis and is regularly available in the aquarium trade.

Moderate
Adult male, neutral mood.

Apistogramma barlowiA174

Römer & Hahn, 2008

Max length
♂ 65 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.6 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
4.5–6.5

This species has been assigned the code A174 under the DATZ system, and is also known by the trade names A. sp. 'Maulbrüter/mouthbrooder', A. sp. 'Glaser' (these referring to the 'red' colour form) and A. sp. 'Hauswell' (referring to the 'white' colour form). It can be told apart from other members of the genus most eas...

Moderate
Adult male of a Peruvian form traded as "light blue". Collection locality unspecified. Neutral mood.

Apistogramma bitaeniataTwo-Striped Dwarf Cichlid

Pellegrin, 1936

Max length
♂ 75 · ♀ 55mm SL♂ 3.0 · ♀ 2.2in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
4.5–7.0

Localities known in the hobby include 'Pastaza', 'Putumayo', 'Requena', 'Río Nanay', 'Rio Napo', 'Maniti', 'Momón', 'Río Tigre', 'Río Ampiyacu', 'Shishita', 'Shushupi', 'Yavari', 'Tefé', 'Manaquiri', 'Lago do Januari', 'Mamori' (often misspelled 'Mamuri'), 'Careiro', 'Manacapuru', 'Juruá', 'Curuaí', and 'Purutu' though we've been unable to find anywhere matching the latter name within the species' known distribution, and in fact several of these names are applied incorrectly on a regular basis.

Easy
Adult male; origin not supplied.

Apistogramma borelliiBorelli's Dwarf Cichlid

Regan, 1906

Max length
♂ 65 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 2.6 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
5.0–8.0

Numerous ornamental forms of this species have been selectively-bred for the aquarium trade. It has also been assigned the 'A' number A234 under the DATZ system with possibly conspecific, related forms similarly numbered A103, A104, and A105 depending on locality.

Beginner
Brevis (Apistogramma brevis)

Apistogramma brevis

Kullander, 1980

Max length
60mm SL2.4in SL
Tank
45 × 38cm18 × 15in
Temp
26–28°C79–82°F
pH
6.0–7.0

Apistogrammas are identified by the use of "A numbers"in a similar fashion to the "L number" system used to identify loricariids. Apistogramma brevis is identified as A168. Additionally, apistos are also grouped into type families and this species is the species type of the brevis group. Unlike some apistogramma species, a. brevis occurs only in a relatively small range and has not been found outside this. personata complex gibbiceps group...

Moderate
Wild adult male from Picuruyacu, Río Nanay drainage, Loreto Region, Peru; neutral mood.

Apistogramma cacatuoidesCockatoo Cichlid

Hoedeman, 1951

Max length
♂ 75 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 3.0 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
5.0–6.0

Numerous ornamental forms of this species have been selectively line-bred for the aquarium trade, vernacular names for which include "sunset", "sunburst", "double red", "triple red", "gold", "white gold", "orange flash" and "albino". It has also been assigned the 'A' number A200 under the DATZ system with possibly conspecific, related forms similarly numbered A201, A202 and A203 depending on locality. Th...

Moderate
Apistogramma cinilabra male

Apistogramma cinilabraAsh Lipped Apisto (A80)

Romer, Duponchelle, Diaz, Davilla, Sirvas, Catchay and Renno, 2011

Max length
♂ 70 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.8 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
21–27°C70–81°F
pH
4.5–7.0

Apistogramma cinilabra

Easy
Apistogramma commbrae male, from Paraguay

Apistogramma commbraeA93

Regan, 1906

Max length
♂ 50 · ♀ 30mm SL♂ 2.0 · ♀ 1.2in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
15–27°C59–81°F
pH
6.0–7.4

Apistogramma commbrae and other members of the commbrae complex can be distinguished from congeners by the conspicuous double caudal peduncle spot. This species may also be polymorphic, with some males exhibiting red and blue markings on the cheeks and a yellow gular region.

Beginner
Wild-collected, adult male specimen; locality unspecified.

Apistogramma elizabethaeA208

Kullander, 1980

Max length
50mm SL2.0in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
4.0–6.0

The form from the rio Içana tends to have more blue markings on the head than that from the Uaupés, while a reddish population apparently collected close to the settlement of Tucana (sometimes mis-spelled 'Tucano') on the Uaupés is sometimes traded as A. elizabethae 'super red'. Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description.

Moderate
Young adult male specimen; origin unspecified.

Apistogramma eremnopygeA218

Ready & Kullander, 2004

Max length
♂ 70 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 2.8 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–28°C72–82°F
pH
4.0–6.0

Known only from Loreto region in northeastern (Amazonian) Peru. Type locality is 'Río Pintuyacu, 48 kilometers on road from Iquitos to Nauta, Río Itaya drainage, Province Loreto, Peru' and it's also been recorded from tributaries of the Nanay system in the same area. An additional population is known from the Río Tapiche, a tributary of the Río Ucayali located well over 150 km further south.

Moderate
Adult male specimen; origin not supplied.

Apistogramma eunotus

Kullander, 1981

Max length
♂ 55 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.2 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
5.5–7.0

The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation.

Easy
Captive-bred adult male specimen.

Apistogramma hoignei

Meinken, 1965

Max length
60mm SL2.4in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
5.0–7.0

The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation. Member species have also been organised into a series of species lineages, sublineages, complexes and groups by authors in order to better separate them.

Beginner
Adult male from the aquarium trade.

Apistogramma hongsloi

Kullander, 1979

Max length
60mm SL2.4in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
5.5–7.0

The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation.

Beginner
Adult male specimen; origin unspecified.

Apistogramma macmasteri

Kullander, 1979

Max length
♂ 55 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.2 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
5.5–7.0

The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation. Member species have also been organised into a series of species lineages, complexes and groups by authors in order to better separate them.

Moderate
Adult male specimen in aggressive mood and posture. Precise collection details unknown.

Apistogramma mendeziA220

Römer, 1994

Max length
not recorded
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
23–29°C73–84°F
pH
4.0–6.0

This species is assigned the codes A220, A221 and A222 under the DATZ 'A' number system with these referring to similar-looking, possibly conspecific, populations. These differ in some aspects of colour pattern, particularly the orientation of the caudal-fin markings which may be horizontal, vertical, or somewhere inbetween. One population displays an orange colouration on the belly and is som...

Moderate
1 field missing
Adult male specimen; neutral mood.

Apistogramma nijsseni

Kullander, 1979

Max length
♂ 85 · ♀ 70mm SL♂ 3.3 · ♀ 2.8in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
5.0–6.5

The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation. Member species have also been organised into a series of species lineages, complexes and groups by authors in order to better separate them. Such lists have been augmented by fish that have appeared in the aquarium trade and are in a state of near-constant flux

Moderate
Adult male specimen.

Apistogramma norberti

Staeck, 1991

Max length
♂ 60 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.4 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
4.5–6.5

Prior to decription this species was known as A. sp. 'großmaul' or 'bigmouth', and it has also been assigned the code A190 under the DATZ system. The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection data if available in order to avoid mixing them and the potential of hybridisation.

Moderate
Adult male specimen.

Apistogramma panduro

Römer, 1987

Max length
♂ 75 · ♀ 55mm SL♂ 3.0 · ♀ 2.2in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
4.0–6.5

This species is also known by the alternative vernacular names 'blue panda cichlid', 'blue sky dwarf cichlid and 'azure cichlid' as well as the confusing trade name A.sp. 'pandurini'. It has also been assigned the 'A' number A183 under the DATZ system with possibly conspecific, related forms similarly numbered A184 or A185 depending on locality. It can be distinguished from similar-looking species by the length of the lower jaw which characte...

Moderate
Male individual of Apistograma pantalone.

Apistogramma pantaloneA186

Romer, Romer, Soares & Hahn, 2006

Max length
♂ 50 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.0 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
21–26°C70–79°F
pH
4.0–6.5

Apistogramma pantalone

Easy
Male engaged in courtship display. Origin unspecified.

Apistogramma paulmuelleriA52

Römer, Beninde, Duponchelle, García Dávila, Vela Díaz & Renno, 2013

Max length
♂ 42 · ♀ 33mm SL♂ 1.7 · ♀ 1.3in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
22–31°C72–88°F
pH
4.0–6.5

This species is assigned the code A52 under the DATZ 'A' number system and is also known by the trade names A. sp. 'Apache', A. sp. 'Peru (II)', A. sp. 'Peru-regani', A. sp. cf. regani (Belém) and A. sp. 'carapintada'. Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or ma...

Moderate
Wild-collected male from the Inirida river basin, Colombia.

Apistogramma sp. 'breitbinden'A164

authority not recorded

Max length
♂ 70 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 2.8 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
4.0–6.5

The German term 'breitbinden' translates literally as "broad-banded" and refers to the uniformly broad suborbital stripe seen in males of this 'species' which remains undescribed despite being known in the aquarium hobby for several decades. It's often imported as bycatch among shipments of wild-collected A. iniridae. Some of the populations have also been assigned th...

Moderate
Adult male, wild-collected specimen; neutral mood.

Apistogramma sp. 'Kelleri'

authority not recorded

Max length
♂ 80 · ♀ 65mm SL♂ 3.1 · ♀ 2.6in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–29°C72–84°F
pH
4.0–6.0

This undescribed species was first collected and subsequently appeared in the aquarium hobby during 2008. It was exported again in late 2009 and early 2010 under the names A. sp. 'Jutai' and A. sp. 'diamond face', and said to have been collected in the Río Jutai, Amazonas state, Brazil. The Jutai is a south bank tributary of the Solimões but lies several hundred kilometres downstream of Leticia so this information, from a purportedly trustworthy source, initiall...

Moderate
Young adult male specimen, neutral mood.

Apistogramma steindachneriSteindachner's Apisto

Regan, 1908

Max length
♂ 80 · ♀ 50mm SL♂ 3.1 · ♀ 2.0in SL
Tank
90 × 30cm36 × 12in
Temp
20–25°C68–77°F
pH
4.0–7.5

This species is assigned the code A138 under the DATZ system, with the Venezuelan variant referred to as A139 for easy reference. The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or may not turn out to be distinct in the future. Hobbyists tend to label these with collection dat...

Moderate
Adult male specimen from the German aquarium trade.

Apistogramma trifasciataThree-striped Apisto

Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903

Max length
♂ 55 · ♀ 40mm SL♂ 2.2 · ♀ 1.6in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
20–25°C68–77°F
pH
5.0–7.0

This species is assigned the 'A' number A204 under the DATZ system with possibly conspecific, related forms coded A205 or A206 depending on collection locality and representing populations from Argentina and the rio Guaporé, respectively. The genus Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description.

Easy
Apistogramma viejita male. Note the red dorsal seam and trapezoid peduncle spot

Apistogramma viejitaRed Edge Apisto

Kullander, 1979

Max length
♂ 50 · ♀ 80mm SL♂ 2.0 · ♀ 3.1in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
22–28°C72–82°F
pH
4.5–6.5

Apistogramma viejita

Easy