[Ebook] Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish – Directory of Freshwater Fish – Cichlids – Dwarf cichlids

Directory of Freshwater Fish

Cichlids

Dwarf cichlids

Chessboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus)

• ORIGINS: South America, in the Rio Orinoco basin in Colombia and the Rio Negro basin in Brazil.
• SIZE: 3 1⁄2 in (9 cm).
• DIET: Live foods and prepared foods.
• WATER: Temperature 73–77°F (23–25°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Relatively peaceful.

Alternating light and dark blotches along the side of the body help to identify this shy cichlid, as does the red line below the eye. The male, shown above, has more colorful fins and a more deeply forked caudal fin than the female. A single male should be housed with several females in a well-planted tank; rockwork will provide the fish with egg-laying sites. The female watches over her brood at first.

Golden Dwarf Cichlid (Nannacara anomala)

• ORIGINS: Widely distributed throughout northern parts of South America.
• SIZE: 3 in (7.5 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Peaceful and social.

Sexing is straightforward with this species: females are plain yellow and smaller in size than the males, which are more colorful, with bluish markings on their flanks. Darker blotched markings may appear on the sides of the female’s body just prior to spawning. A well-planted aquarium is required, with suitable retreats for breeding. This is a cavebreeding cichlid; the female guards the eggs and then watches over her offspring. Young fish are less colorful than adults.

Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma borellii)

• ORIGINS: South America, found in parts of the Mato Grosso, Brazil, and the Pantanal, Paraguay.
• SIZE: 3 in (7.5 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods
• WATER: Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Males are territorial.

As with other Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, the Umbrella shows clear sexual dimorphism, with the male generally larger and more colorful than the female. This is a typical member of the group, displaying variable coloration. Umbrellas are rather nervous fish and settle better if housed with smaller, nonaggressive shoaling fish, such as tetras, which require similar water conditions.

Red-Tailed Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma macmasteri)

• ORIGINS: South America, occurring in the Rio Meta, close to Villavicencio, Colombia.
• SIZE: 4 in (10 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 73–86°F (23–30°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Males are territorial.

The female Red-Tailed Dwarf, pictured here, lacks the red markings seen on the male’s caudal fin. Keep these fish in a small group made up of a single male and several females. Partially buried clay flowerpots make ideal spawning sites. These should be spaced around the aquarium to provide a retreat for each female. A typical spawning results in up to 120 eggs, with the fry hatching in three days. The male sometimes helps to guard the fry

Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii)

• ORIGINS: South America, occurring in many of the tributaries on the southern side of the Amazon.
• SIZE: 4 in (10 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Males are territorial

The appearance of these dwarf cichlids is variable, with a number of morphs recognized, all of them brightly colored. Yellow predominates in the individual pictured below, but others have reddishorange fins. Weekly partial water changes of about 10 percent of total volume are important for all dwarf cichlids, to keep the nitrate level low. Water changes may trigger spawning and will lessen the risk of fungal attacks on the eggs.

Nijssen’s Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma nijsseni)

• ORIGINS: South America, in the lower Rio Ucayali and the Rio Yavari in Peru.
• SIZE: 3 1⁄2 in (9 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 73–86°F (23–30°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Males are territorial.

The coloration of the larger male is more variable than that of the female, which is predominantly black and yellow. Like the female, the male has a rounded caudal fin—unusual in male dwarf cichlids. As with other members of this group, Nijssen’s is highly insectivorous and may prove reluctant to sample other foods. Mosquito larvae are particularly useful for encouraging spawning. The regular addition of aquarium peat to the filter (see p.46) is recommended. These cichlids need a tank well stocked with aquatic plants.

FACTORS INFLUENCING BREEDING

Suitable retreats in the aquarium are vital for successful breeding with Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, because these fish are cave-spawners. The female, such as the Cockatoo Dwarf pictured here, instinctively seeks out a site that affords her relative safety. In Nijssen’s Dwarf (see left), environmental conditions have been shown to have a direct impact on breeding, and it may be that this is also the case with other group members. When the water temperature is above 84.4°F (29.1°C) only male fish result, while the offspring are all female when the water is 68–73°F (20–23°C). The influence of pH is relatively slight, but the percentage of eggs that hatch in naturally soft water is much higher than in hard water environments.

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma cacatuoides)

• ORIGINS: South America, in parts of Peru and in adjacent areas of Brazil and Colombia.
• SIZE: 3 1⁄2 in (9 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods and small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Males are territorial.

When extended, the long rays at the front of this dwarf cichlid’s dorsal fin resemble a crest. As in the other Apistogramma species, a single male should be housed with several females. The male frequents the middle layer of the tank, while the females establish small territories near the bottom. He visits their territories to breed but will remain outside the entrance to the spawning cave. When a number of females have broods at the same time, the young of different groups may join together.

• Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid This species, like many dwarf cichlids, is highly variable in coloration. The fin rays are longer at both ends of the dorsal fin than at the middle.
• Red Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid These red morphs are among the most popular of the Cockatoo Dwarf variants. Fish available today have been extensively developed by selective breeding.
• Sunburst Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid This variant gets its name from its brilliant yellow and red coloration. The female, shown above, can be identified by the more rounded shape of her caudal fin.